Updated
Updated · Engadget · Sep 26
Apple Unveils iPhone 18 Pro With 48MP Camera and 45-Hour Battery as A20 Pro Debuts
Updated
Updated · Engadget · Sep 26

Apple Unveils iPhone 18 Pro With 48MP Camera and 45-Hour Battery as A20 Pro Debuts

3 articles · Updated · Engadget · Sep 26

Summary

  • Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro lineup adds a variable-aperture 48MP main camera, with the Pro Max rated for up to 45 hours of video playback versus 39 hours on the 17 Pro Max.
  • The camera is the biggest hardware change: the main lens now shifts between f/1.48 and f/4.0, while Apple also adds manual shutter speed, white balance and histogram controls.
  • A new 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip replaces the A19 Pro, with Apple claiming 50% more memory bandwidth, up to 40% faster graphics and doubled AI processing power.
  • Battery gains come with trade-offs: the 18 Pro reaches 36 hours of video playback and the 18 Pro Max 45 hours, but the phones are 2.4% and 6.9% heavier than their predecessors.
  • Most other changes are incremental—same screen sizes and overall design, a smaller Dynamic Island and faster 50% charging in 15 minutes—making the upgrade less compelling for iPhone 17 Pro owners.

Insights

With identical designs and hidden AI upgrades, is the iPhone 18 Pro a revolutionary leap or just a brilliant marketing illusion?
Why is Apple quietly locking down photo authenticity on the iPhone 18 Pro, and what does it mean for your privacy?
Can Apple's groundbreaking 2nm A20 Pro chip survive a tight global supply chain, or will early buyers face massive delays?