Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max introduce a mechanical variable aperture with laser-cut blades, offering four manual settings from f/1.48 to f/4.0. The feature works alongside a new sensor, persistent subject tracking, expanded Pro controls, and a new 'Reference' mode to give photographers more control over depth of field and exposure without changing shutter speed.
Apple's newly announced iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max claim the largest battery life increase in the device's history, driven by redesigned batteries, the more efficient A20 Pro chip, and software tuning. Per Apple's specs, streaming playback rises from 30 to 33 hours on the standard Pro and from 35 to 40 hours on the Max, while a new 'real-world usage' metric rates the Pro at 24 hours and the Pro Max at 30 hours.
Apple has released the iPhone 18 Pro, introducing a variable-aperture camera system as its headline hardware feature. The upgrade allows the camera to adjust its aperture opening, a capability previously reserved for dedicated cameras and rarely seen in smartphones.
Apple has released a fourth round of release candidate builds for macOS Tahoe 26.7 (build 25G229) and macOS Sequoia 15.8 (build 24H23) to developers and public beta testers. The updates focus primarily on bug fixes and performance improvements rather than new features, and come shortly after Apple's product event.
Apple introduced a new Reference camera mode on the iPhone 18 Pro that creates a tamper-proof original copy of every photo taken, using sensor signatures verified through Private Cloud Compute. This reference image sits alongside any edited version in the Photos app, letting users compare the two directly. Apple also announced it will support Google's SynthID standard for identifying AI-generated or altered images.
Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max with a redesigned 48MP Fusion Main camera featuring variable aperture, a first for iPhone, letting users or apps adjust between four aperture settings from f/1.48 to f/4.0. The devices also gain a new A20 Pro chip along with thermal design improvements and new pro-focused camera software tools exclusive to the Pro line.
Apple has extended its $100 price increase from the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max to older, unchanged models. The iPhone 17 now starts at $899, the iPhone Air at $1099, the iPhone 17e at $699, and the iPhone 16 at $799, all up from their previous prices despite receiving no updates.
Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro alongside other hardware, headlined by a camera system with variable aperture settings of f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0, adjustable directly in the camera app. The device also features a smaller Dynamic Island capable of displaying three simultaneous live activities, plus updated Photographic Styles with new texture and grain options.
Apple has reintroduced a black color option for its iPhone Pro lineup, ending a one-year gap after the iPhone 17 Pro launched only in orange, silver, and blue. The black finish returns alongside other color choices like burgundy for the newer Pro model.
Apple's September event introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone Duo, but skipped the standard iPhone 18. Reports indicate the base model, along with an iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2, will arrive in early 2027 instead, marking a shift to a twice-yearly release schedule.
Apple unveiled its Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro line and foldable iPhone Duo at its 'Surprise and Shine' event, highlighting a new Audio Intelligence system for the watches. The feature set includes ambient sound alerts for things like sirens and doorbells, a Live Rewind tool that transcribes the previous 15 seconds of speech via a crown double-tap, and a Siri Recap function that summarizes key conversations for later reference.
Apple has officially confirmed the release timeline for its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, which starts at $1,999. Pre-orders begin October 16, with the device shipping October 23, separate from the iPhone 18 Pro lineup arriving in September.