iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: price, specs and whether it’s worth buying

Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September, and both went on sale on September 18 in more than 65 countries. This year’s update is about what’s inside rather than how it looks: a new 2nm chip, a smarter camera and longer battery life.

Prices

• iPhone 18 Pro (6.3-inch) — from $1,199 in the US with 256GB
• iPhone 18 Pro Max (6.9-inch) — from $1,299 with 256GB
• Storage options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB (2TB is now available on the smaller Pro too)

Prices outside the US, including in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, differ noticeably because of import costs and dealer margins, so it pays to compare several stores before buying.

A20 Pro: the first 2nm iPhone chip

Both models run on the A20 Pro, built on Apple’s 2-nanometer process. It has a 6-core CPU (2 performance and 4 efficiency cores), a 7-core GPU and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says the CPU is up to 20% faster than the A19 Pro and graphics up to 40% faster. A vapor chamber with three times the surface area improves sustained performance by up to 40%, which you will notice in games and video editing.

Camera: variable aperture

The headline feature is a variable aperture on the 48MP Fusion main camera, from f/1.48 to f/4. Like on a dedicated camera, you can control how much light comes in and how blurred the background is. Also on board:

• 48MP Ultra Wide camera with macro mode
• 48MP Telephoto with 8x optical-quality zoom
• 18MP Center Stage front camera
• 4K 120fps Dolby Vision video, ProRes RAW and Apple Log 2

Display and battery

The displays offer 120Hz ProMotion, 460 ppi and up to 3,000 nits outdoors. The Dynamic Island is smaller and can now show three Live Activities at once. Apple rates the iPhone 18 Pro at up to 24 hours of typical use and the Pro Max at up to 30 hours (maximum figures apply to eSIM-only models). A 60W adapter charges to 50% in about 15 minutes, and MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging reach 25W.

Where is the regular iPhone 18?

This fall Apple launched only the Pro models and the new foldable iPhone Duo. According to MacRumors, the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, while the standard iPhone 18 is expected in spring 2027. If you are waiting for a cheaper new iPhone, you will need a few more months of patience.

Is it worth buying?

If you own an iPhone 15 Pro or older, the upgrade is significant: speed, camera and battery all take a clear step forward. For iPhone 17 Pro owners the case is weaker — the dimensions are identical, and the main gains are the aperture and the chip. If you want to save money, a discounted iPhone 17 Pro or the regular iPhone 18 next spring are good alternatives.