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Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max bring a redesigned back where the glass camera cutout now matches the aluminum color, addressing criticism of last year's contrasting two-tone look. The phones also gain a variable aperture camera, faster performance, longer battery life, and added weight, and come in burgundy, glacier, silver, and black.
WIRED's review of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max highlights strong multi-day battery life, especially on the larger Pro Max, along with a significant performance jump from the new A20 Pro chip. The devices can run demanding console ports like Control, aided by a vapor chamber with triple the surface area for cooling. The phones also ship with iOS 27 and an upgraded Siri AI that remains less capable than rival assistants.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max pre-orders have slipped from launch-day delivery to estimates spanning late September into October, just days after orders opened. The Pro Max faces the longest wait, with US Apple Store estimates showing October 6-13 delivery across all colors and storage sizes, while the standard Pro shows September 29-October 6.
Apple has outlined how its AppleCare+ single-device insurance compares with the newer AppleCare One subscription, which covers multiple gadgets under one plan. AppleCare+ pricing varies by device, ranging from about $10 a month for the iPhone 17e to $14 a month for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and includes unlimited accidental damage repairs, priority support, and battery replacement once health drops below 80 percent. Deductibles still apply for specific repairs, such as $29 for screen damage and $149 for theft or loss replacement.
Apple opened pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max ahead of their September 18 launch, but shipping estimates for many Pro Max configurations have already slipped into October. The standard Pro remains widely available for day-one delivery, while only the priciest 2TB storage option across both models still ships on launch day.
Apple has begun taking preorders for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which were unveiled at its September 2026 event alongside the iPhone Duo. The 6.3-inch Pro starts at $1,199 and the 6.9-inch Pro Max at $1,299, both offered in deep black, silver, glacier and burgundy, with prices climbing to $2,499 for the top 2TB configuration. Unlocked units are currently only available through Apple, while retailers like Best Buy and Walmart are offering carrier-locked models tied to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.
Apple opens iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max pre-orders Saturday at 8 a.m. ET, a day later than usual due to the date falling on 9/11. Customers can use Apple's 'Get Ready' feature in the Apple Store app or website to pre-select their model, accessories, financing and trade-in details ahead of time, speeding up checkout once orders go live. That setup window closes Friday night at 9 p.m. PT, despite a press release typo listing the cutoff as 9 a.m.
A comparison of the flagship-sized iPhone 18 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra shows both share a 6.9-inch screen but differ in build: Apple mixes aluminum and glass while Samsung uses an all-glass back. Samsung's phone is lighter and thinner, has a marginally higher-resolution AMOLED display, and retains the S Pen stylus, while Apple's OLED screen edges ahead on peak brightness at 3,000 nits versus 2,600 nits.
Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro Max debuted at $1,299, a $100 jump from last year's model, putting its 256GB version near the price of Samsung's $1,300 Galaxy S26 Ultra. The two flagships now compete closely on battery life and cameras, despite differing designs: the 18 Pro Max uses an aluminum unibody with a 6.8-inch OLED screen, while the lighter S26 Ultra features a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a unique Privacy Display mode.
Apple's iPhone 18 generation launches without a standard model, offering instead the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a new folding iPhone Duo. The Pro models are up for preorder September 12 and ship September 18, while the Duo opens preorders October 16 ahead of an October 23 release. Rumors point to a cheaper standard iPhone, an 18e, and a second-generation Air arriving as early as spring 2027.
Apple has revealed its newest iPhone lineup, including the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its debut foldable model, the iPhone Duo. Pre-order windows and shipping timelines have been laid out for customers eager to secure the new devices before general availability.
Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro uses its own C2 modem, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max sticks with a Qualcomm modem despite otherwise similar specs like mmWave support. Meanwhile, battery life improved for both models, but the Pro Max jumped by six hours of video playback to 45 hours total, compared to just a three-hour gain to 36 hours for the standard Pro.