Apple's New iPhone 18 Pro Looks the Same but Takes Better Photos
The new iPhone 18 Pro is shaped just like last year's iPhone 17 Pro. It even fits the same cases. That is the main point of The Verge review published on September 16, 2026, which says this is not a redesign.
What stayed the same, what changed
The outside is unchanged. Inside is Apple's A20 Pro chip, the phone's brain, with a better cooling system. The review says it can run at full speed for longer. That helps with long tasks like editing video, playing games and running AI features, more than with quick speed tests.
The review says the main camera is the largest change. Apple added a moving opening that controls how much light reaches the sensor, like the pupil in your eye. Both Pro models have it MacRumors, built as a 48-megapixel main camera with six small blades The Verge.
The widest opening is now f/1.48, wider than last year's f/1.8. Users can also pick f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4. A smaller number means more light. The built-in camera app now lets you set the opening and brightness by hand, with no extra app needed.
Price, dates and verdict
The price is $100 higher than last year. The iPhone 18 Pro costs $1199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max costs $1299. The review calls the phone excellent and utterly iterative. It finds no strong reason to pick it over a cheaper iPhone 17 Pro, unless the buyer takes a lot of phone photos.
Apple showed the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on September 9, 2026, at an event called "Surprise and Shine". The company said they offer an advanced pro camera system with improved battery life and performance Apple, and later said they bring advances across camera, performance, battery, and intelligence Apple. Pre-orders started September 12, 2026, and the phones go on sale September 18, 2026. Apple also published an update titled 'Get ready to experience iPhone 18 Pro, the new Apple Watch lineup, and AirPods 5' on September 11, 2026.
What else Apple announced
The same September 9 event included iPhone Duo, with a 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR display that is 50 percent larger than iPhone 18 Pro Max when opened Apple. Earlier, a Tata data leak reported June 30, 2026, exposed the supplier list, parts, photos and details for iPhone 18 Pro Reuters. Other material said files with upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models data were posted on the dark web by a ransomware group that stole data from a U.S. firm.
Stepping back, this is what it means for most people. Better cooling means less slowdown during long video, game and AI tasks. The adjustable opening gives more control over blur and sharpness. In my view, neither changes the choice for most buyers, which matches the review. The 17 Pro stays useful for longer, while the 18 Pro makes sense where hand control saves editing time or extra gear. With prices $100 higher for the same shape, keen photo and video users benefit most.
