GoKawiilKerry Wan/ZDNET
Just a week ago, I was caught in a frenzy. As the doors opened to the iPhone demo room after Apple’s Surprise and Shine keynote, I couldn’t help but pause as dozens of journalists and media members rushed to get the very first hands-on photos of the iPhone Duo. A device of such aura, as my little cousin would say, demands attention.
Also: iPhone 18 Pro hands-on: I came for the Burgundy and stayed for the dual-aperture cameras
So, I went the other way and got my hands on the also-new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max instead. In a market dominated by headlines about price hikes and memory shortages, it’s these familiar models, like the Pro series, that may have more sticking power with people. But will the masses bite?
After a good hour admiring the new design, toying with the enhanced Siri features, and dialing between different apertures, a camera capability Apple has surely put a good chunk of its marketing spend toward, I left with a takeaway I wasn’t expecting.
For the first time in a long time, I’ll be recommending the smaller Pro variant over the Pro Max, and it’s not just because of the size difference.
Absolute feature parity
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
Shortly after last week’s keynote, I visited Apple’s Visitor Center just outside the Park. It’s basically the fanciest Apple store you’ll ever see, with merchandise and products available on one side, and a sit-down cafe on the other.
While there, I had a few conversations with visitors about the newly announced iPhones. One thing that really struck me was the belief that the Pro Max model always has the better camera and performance. That’s true, if it were two years ago.
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