Apple has launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with higher starting prices, a new A20 Pro chip, a variable-aperture 48-megapixel main camera and storage choices extending to 2TB.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 in the United States, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Both entry models include 256GB of storage. Preorders open on September 12, with availability beginning September 18 in first-wave markets.
Prices differ significantly by country because Apple sets local retail prices rather than converting the US number at the daily exchange rate. Taxes, import duties, currency hedging and regional costs can all affect the final amount.
iPhone 18 Pro price by country
The table below uses confirmed base-model launch prices reported for the 256GB versions. It does not convert currencies or include temporary retailer discounts.
| Country or market | iPhone 18 Pro 256GB | iPhone 18 Pro Max 256GB | |---|---:|---:| | United States | $1,199 | $1,299 | | India | ₹1,64,900 | ₹1,79,900 | | Australia | A$2,099 | A$2,299 | | Spain / euro pricing | €1,469 | €1,619 | | Brazil | R$11,999 | R$12,999 |
US prices are generally shown before state sales tax, so the checkout total varies by location. Prices in India, Australia, Europe and Brazil normally include the taxes required in the displayed consumer price. That difference means the US figure should not be compared with tax-inclusive markets as if all rows were calculated in the same way.
Apple has not published one universal worldwide price. Buyers should verify the Apple Store for their exact country before ordering, especially where carrier bundles, trade-in credits or financing are shown beside the full retail price.
What is new in the iPhone 18 Pro?
The headline hardware change is a 48MP main camera with a mechanical variable aperture. The aperture can open wider in low light or narrow to provide more depth control, giving photographers a physical tool that previous iPhones largely simulated through computation.
Apple has also added Pro Controls for settings including shutter speed, white balance and aperture. The phones can capture 4K time-lapse video in Dolby Vision HDR, and new photographic-style controls allow adjustment of texture and grain.
Another addition is Apple Reference Image, a system that cryptographically signs an image at capture to help establish its origin. Apple also supports Google's SynthID standard for identifying some AI-created or edited media. Reuters reported that Apple Reference Image will not be available in the European Union or China, an important regional limitation.
A20 Pro, Siri AI and cooling upgrades
Both phones use the A20 Pro, produced on a 2-nanometre process. Apple describes a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and expanded neural processing aimed at running more Apple Intelligence work on the device.
The iPhone 18 Pro line also introduces Apple's C2 cellular modem and a larger vapor chamber. The cooling system matters because sustained gaming, video recording and local AI workloads can force a phone to reduce performance when temperatures rise.
Apple is positioning the devices as private personal AI hubs. The updated Siri can work with more context and more expressive voices, while Apple says sensitive processing will remain on the device whenever possible.
Battery life and charging
Apple rates the iPhone 18 Pro for up to 36 hours of video playback and the Pro Max for up to 45 hours. Those figures are controlled playback claims, not a promise that every user will receive the same screen-on time.
The company says 15 minutes of wired charging can deliver up to 50% charge on the iPhone 18 Pro. Battery results will vary with network conditions, camera use, display brightness, AI tasks and background activity.
Storage, colours and release date
Both models are offered in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB configurations. The colours are deep black, silver, glacier blue and burgundy, with matching rear glass.
Preorders begin Saturday, September 12, 2026, and first-wave retail availability begins Friday, September 18. Local launch schedules can differ, as illustrated by Brazil's reported October 23 availability.
The standard iPhone 18 was not announced at this event. Apple's premium launch instead centred on the Pro phones and the new foldable iPhone Duo. Buyers should not assume a base iPhone 18 is included in the September release lineup.
Is the Pro Max worth the higher price?
The Pro Max starts $100 above the Pro in the US and provides the larger display and Apple's longest quoted iPhone battery life. The camera and chip platform are otherwise closely aligned, so the decision is mainly about size, endurance and price rather than access to an entirely different performance tier.
People who value one-handed use may prefer the smaller Pro. Heavy travellers, gamers and video users may benefit more from the Pro Max battery. Buyers upgrading from a recent Pro model should wait for independent camera, thermal and battery testing before treating Apple's launch claims as measured real-world gains.
Sources: Reuters Apple launch report, The Verge iPhone 18 Pro announcement, Indian Express India pricing, Australian launch pricing and European prices reported by Cadena SER.
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