iPhone 18 Pro vs. 17 Pro: Camera Upgrades Explained

Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max on Wednesday, with prices starting at $1,200 and $1,300, respectively—$100 more than last year's models due to the ongoing RAM shortage. The new phones feature a first-ever mechanical aperture for manual camera control. The iPhone 18 Pro introduces a 2nm A20 Pro chip with 50% more memory bandwidth and a 40% faster GPU than the previous generation. It also includes a redesigned vapor chamber with 3X more surface area for improved cooling and sustained performance, plus a slightly larger battery. The headline camera upgrade is a mechanical aperture on the main 48-megapixel wide lens, offering four f-stops for depth-of-field control. The phone also debuts an exclusive Apple Reference Image feature for photo authentication, while the Dynamic Island is now 25% smaller. Preorders begin Sept. 12, with shipping starting Sept. 18.