The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max were announced alongside the iPhone Duo at Apple’s 2026 fall event. I didn’t put the 18 Pro or the 18 Pro Max through their paces, so the next few weeks will include a lot of testing. But my first impressions of the device are pretty positive — though that could have something to do with using the iPhone 17 Pro Max a lot throughout the past year.
Burgundy
Firstly, let’s talk about the colours. In previous rumours, we saw a dark, cherry-like purple colour, but the ‘Burgundy’ we ended up getting is super nice. It’s muted compared to last year’s Cosmic Orange, but it’s elegant and reminiscent of a red wine on a nice day. And instead of the two-tone experience like the 17 Pro series, Apple colour-matched the glass back and the aluminium, offering more of a uniform design. I think a lot more people will like this instead of the two-tone design. I can’t decide which I like more, but imagining the 18 Pro Burgundy with a two-tone colour like the Cosmic Orange 17 Pro, I think it would cheapen the look. The Black model is also surprisingly really nice, and even the Glacier model looks stunning, but Burgundy is where it’s at — at least for me.
The iPhone 18 Pro also has that Ceramic Shield back and Ceramic Shield 2 on the front as well, so it should be able to handle some damage. The 17 Pro has the same protection, and I drop that phone literally all the time, and the screen is fine — though it’s pretty beat up around the edges. The 18 Pro is also a bit heavier than the 17 Pro, but I didn’t really notice the difference.
Another design element that I liked in the iPhone 18 Pro was the redesigned Dynamic Island, which is even smaller than the iPhone 17 Pro’s, and you’re able to see up to three Live Activities at once. I didn’t see this in action, but I like that the 17 Pro gives you two Live Activities, and three is better than two.
But that’s pretty much my whole experience with the 18 Pro. I was shown demos of Apple Intelligence in Photos, like the ability to Extend and Reframe pictures, but that’s not exclusive to the iPhone 18 Pro, and you can use it with any Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone (so 15 Pro and newer) on iOS 27 next week when the update launches on September 14.
Variable Aperture
What I’m most excited about on the iPhone 18 Pro is the variable aperture, which automatically changes between f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0 apertures depending on the scene.
It’s pretty cool; Apple wasn’t the first to bring the variable aperture to smartphones. The Galaxy S10 had one as well, but it was only capable of switching between an f/1.5 aperture and an f/2.4 aperture, whereas the 18 Pro has twice as many options. It’s honestly pretty cool, and you can see the aperture change in real time. However, it was nearly impossible to get a video of it in the hands-on area.
A variable aperture, like this, is clutch and can possibly really change how your photos turn out. It’ll impact group photos or any picture where you really want to control the depth of field. A large aperture like f/1.48 or f/1.8 can create bokeh effects and enhance the person in the foreground. A smaller aperture, like f/4.0, can keep more of the whole scene in focus, so you can get everyone perfectly sharp in a photo even if they’re in the background.
The larger aperture can also capture more light, helping in darker environments, and Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro can capture 50 per cent more light than the 17 Pro. Your primary camera being able to change automatically on the fly is impressive, and I’m really excited to put this through the test and see how well it can deliver.
However, that’s not all that’s exciting about the camera on the 18 Pro series, as Apple has now brought Pro controls to the camera. Now I typically stay away from Pro camera features. Still, I’ll definitely need to try it out, as you’re now able to control the shutter speed, white balance, and see a histogram before even taking your photo. This is pretty cool, and I’m looking to try this out myself. It can help a lot with motion blur, details in your photo, and even lighting. It’s worth mentioning that Pro controls aren’t exclusive to Apple, and Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra is another option if you’re looking for an Android with Pro camera controls.
Powerful & Full of Battery
The iPhone 18 Pro is powered by the A20 Pro, the company’s newest and most powerful phone chip. And battery-wise, the iPhone 18 Pro Max offers up to 6 more hours of video playback than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The 18 Pro Max also has up to a 20 per cent faster CPU and a 40 per cent faster GPU, which should help with AI experiences, gaming, processing speeds and more.
Essentially, you should have an all-around better experience. The 18 Pro shouldn’t get too hot when you’re using it; it should be faster, AI experiences should also be quicker, and gaming should be top-notch, while still having a great battery experience.
Apple usually delivers on its battery performance, so I have a lot of faith in what the company is saying, but I still need to put the phone through its paces before coming to any definitive conclusions.
GOAT contender
With the variable aperture, professional camera controls, bigger battery, better processor, and that pretty Burgundy finish, the 18 Pro is worth keeping an eye out for.
The 18 Pro starts at C$1,749, and the Pro Max starts at $1,899, and they come out on September 18.
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