September 9, 2026, 8:01 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
The big Apple event 2026 is over, and the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max have been officially unveiled. Apple Intelligence plays a more important role than ever before. However, the enhanced technology will come at a price.
At 7 p.m. German time, the company in Cupertino lifted the curtain on its latest products and software innovations. Expectations were high, and the rumor mill had been churning for weeks. TECHBOOK was on-site and covered the event live with all the important revelations, analyses, and highlights. For those who don’t want to miss any major announcements, we have the latest information.
In addition to the iPhone duo, the new Pro models are in the spotlight:
Camera with Variable Aperture
The biggest change is likely to be found in the camera of the new Pro models: Apple is using a main camera with a variable aperture for the first time. This technology allows the aperture to be adjusted depending on the shooting situation. This enables the camera to let more or less light onto the sensor and gives users additional control over depth of field.
This allows for a more natural background blur, especially in portrait shots. At the same time, a smaller aperture can be advantageous for landscape or architectural shots, as larger areas of the image are rendered sharply. The aperture can adjust automatically depending on the lighting conditions.
The main camera also gets a new, larger 48-megapixel sensor. There is also an ultra-wide-angle camera and a fusion telephoto camera, both with 48 megapixels. The front camera offers 18 megapixels, ultra-stabilized video, and dual recording. Additionally, so-called “Pro Controls” will make handling easier.
Thicker Camera Module and New Casing
The new camera components, however, require more space. Dummy models suggest that the camera module of the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max could be significantly larger than in current devices.
The entire casing is also expected to increase slightly. Sources from the supply chain report an increase of between 0.05 and 0.25 millimeters. However, some accessory manufacturers seem to assume that the difference from the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max is only slight. Otterbox, for example, is already selling cases that, according to the manufacturer, are suitable for both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro.
Dynamic Island Reduced?
At the beginning of the year, persistent rumors suggested that Apple might completely hide the Face ID technology under the display with the new Pro models. However, it is now clear that the technology is not yet mature enough for the mass market–at least for the Pro and Pro Max, as the iPhone duo will feature it.
Instead, Apple is relying on a reduced Dynamic Island. This has now been confirmed. The small pill around the selfie camera and Face ID is set to shrink by 35 percent. At the same time, it can do more than before, such as displaying three live activities simultaneously. It also serves for identification via Face ID.
A20 Pro in Modern 2-Nanometer Process
Under the hood, Apple is using the new A20 Pro chip. This is manufactured using the modern 2-nanometer process, which is also used for the recently released M6. It is 20 percent faster than its predecessor.
The switch to the new manufacturing technology is expected to improve both performance and energy efficiency. The GPU also gets a 40 percent performance boost. Apple also highlighted the significantly improved temperature regulation in connection with the new chip.
Larger Batteries and eSIM Advantages
Apple is also making improvements to the battery. The iPhone 18 Pro matches the iPhone 17 Pro Max and reaches 50 percent in just 15 minutes. The capacity of the iPhone 18 Pro Max even increases significantly. Here, just five minutes of wired charging is enough for about seven hours of video playback. Overall, according to Apple, it is possible to watch videos for up to 34 hours on the Pro and up to 43 hours on the Pro Max. However, these figures only apply to the eSIM variants.
According to reports, Apple will also offer pure eSIM models in Europe for the first time. If this is the case, buyers here will also benefit from the larger battery capacities.
Also interesting: What new devices does Apple have in the pipeline?
iPhone 18 Pro (Max) Review – A Pro Camera in Your Pocket
Apple’s iPhone Duo: First Foldable Outshines Everything
New Colors for the Pro Models
Apple is also adjusting the colors of its premium smartphones again. The leaked colors have been confirmed and are:
- Black
- Burgundy
- Light Blue
- Silver
Price Increases Significantly
Industry analysts considered a significant price increase for the Pro models possible. The reason is the rising costs for memory chips and the production of the new A20 Pro chip.
This has also been confirmed. The price for the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 (for 256 GB), and for the first time, there will be a 2-TB storage variant, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 (also for 256 GB). Corresponding price increases are also likely in Europe.
The German prices are as follows:
iPhone 18 Pro
- 256 GB: from 1,449 euros (60.38 euros/month)
- 512 GB: from 1,699 euros (70.79 euros/month)
- 1 TB: from 2,199 euros (91.62 euros/month)
- 2 TB: from 2,949 euros (122.88 euros/month)
iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 256 GB: from 1,599 euros (66.62 euros/month)
- 512 GB: from 1,849 euros (77.04 euros/month)
- 1 TB: from 2,349 euros (97.88 euros/month)
- 2 TB: from 3,099 euros (129.12 euros/month)