Apple’s newly announced iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199; that’s $100 higher than last year’s models. What does the extra 100$ buy you?
On the 9th of September, 2026, Apple finally launched its highly anticipated iPhone 18 models: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo. It’s the first major iPhone launch under Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, and here’s what you need to know.
iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max Specs
| Specification | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Weight | 211g | 249g |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Chip | A20 Pro | A20 Pro |
| Main camera | 48MP Main, 48MP Ultrawide & 48MP Telephoto (4x optical zoom) |
48MP Main, 48MP Ultrawide & 48MP Telephoto (4x optical zoom) |
| Front camera | 18MP Center Stage | 18MP Center Stage |
| Charging speed | Up to 50% in ~15 min with 60W-capable adapter or higher
MagSafe/Qi2 up to 25W |
Up to 50% in ~15 min with 60W-capable adapter or higher
MagSafe/Qi2 up to 25W |
| Release date | September 18, 2026 | September 18, 2026 |
| Starting price (US) | $1,199 | $1,299 |
iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max Official Release Date and Availability
The new Apple phone models, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo, were announced at Apple’s Surprise and Shine event on the 9th of September, 2026.
The first two, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, will be available for pre-order on the 12th of September 2026 and officially available on the 18th of September 2026. Retail availability with your local vendors will come shortly after.
iPhone Duo—Apple’s first foldable iPhone will be available much later, on the 16th of October, 2026, for preorders and on the 23rd of October, 2026, for general availability.
iPhone 18 Pro Max & iPhone 18 Pro What’s New and What’s Changed?
This year’s release features some major upgrades!
2nm A20 PRO CHIP
The A20 Pro is Apple’s first 2-nanometre iPhone chip (A20 Pro). The A20 Pro essentially delivers lower power consumption for the same work, and less heat for the same speed. This upgrade is not just Apple slapping a fancier name on yet another processor chip. The A20 Pro represents a genuine leap in architecture, efficiency, and processing power.
The A20 Pro has 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU, 32-core Neural Engine, two new high-performance super cores, four efficiency cores, and hardware designed specifically to accelerate AI tasks.
These cores and technical jargon translate to a 20% faster CPU and a GPU that is up to 40% faster than the previous generation. However, this new chip barely matters if the phone cooks itself. Thankfully, both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max’s vapor chambers surface area is roughly 3 times larger than last year’s iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max.
iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro Camera System
What’s a new iPhone without an improved camera?
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max introduces a similar 48MP Main + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP telephoto camera with variable aperture on the main lens, giving users a level of control over light and depth of field that previous iPhone cameras did not offer.
In layman’s terms, the iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max’s camera opens and closes like a traditional camera lens. The six laser-cut blades can automatically or manually adjust between four aperture settings: ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, and ƒ/4. The bigger aperture number the lesser the light intake. In case you’re wondering, aperture control allows you to fine-tune the depth of field on your shots, and in automatic mode, it allows your iPhone to physically adjust its light intake per scene.
However, arguably the biggest improvement for camera enthusiasts is the new Pro Controls built directly into the Camera app. Finally, with the iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max, you can now manually adjust the aperture, shutter speed, and white balance like a dedicated camera.
All without needing a third-party camera app.
iPhone 18 Pro /Pro Max Battery and Charging Setup
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max is tiers ahead of its predecessors in battery life and capability. The new 18 Pro models have new battery designs that take advantage of the efficiency improvements in the A20 Pro. According to Apple, this translates into up to 36 hours of video playback on the iPhone 18 Pro and up to 45 hours on the iPhone 18 Pro Max (eSIM variant). Similar to last year, the eSIM variant lasts around 2 hours longer than models with physical sim slots.
Yet another thing to be thankful for; Apple finally gave us 60W fast charging on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. According to Apple, this means 50% in just 15 minutes. To unlock this speed, you’ll need compatible hardware like a 60-watt-class USB-C cable and a USB PD 3.1 adapter with adjustable voltage supply. And once again, according to Apple, five minutes of wired charging can provide around seven hours of video playback. So if your phone is dying before a flight, a five-minute top-up could make a surprisingly big difference.
iPhone 18 Pro Max/Pro Display
Physically, the iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max looks essentially the same as their predecessors. iPhone 18 Pro is still a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED at 2622 by 1206. iPhone 18 Pro Max is still 6.9 inches at 2868 by 1320. The main difference is a smaller Dynamic Island. It’s about 35% smaller than last year’s 17 Pro models. However, the smaller island means more usable screen space, plus it now shows up to three live activities at once instead of two. Without a spec sheet, the smaller dynamic island is the only noticeable feature.
iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max Colors
Now, for the exciting part. Drumroll please…. The colors.
The new iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max ships in four finishes!
Black, silver, glacier, and a gorgeous, mouthwatering burgundy. Both sizes get the same colors, and Burgundy is the hero color this year (no surprise there).
The dark cherry is extremely popular with Apple fans and is greatly favored in place of last year’s Cosmic Orange.
iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max Release Price
Apple’s iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro Max debut at 100$ more than the model released last year with starting prices at $1,199 for the iPhone Pro and $1,299 for the iPhone Pro Max. Prices may vary based on your local retailer for new or refurbished phones but these are the official prices released by Apple for their preorder starting September 12th 2026.
Selling Your Old iPhone
Yes, the new iPhones are fancy, have a smaller dynamic Island and what not. Another interesting thing is the new iPhones are also $100 more expensive than their predecessor.
So, selling your old iPhone to fund your new iPhone purchase has never been more important. Fortunately, that’s where The Whiz Cells comes in.
Selling your used iPhone doesn’t have to be a stressful chore and it certainly doesn’t have to involve tying yourself to a multi-year carrier contract that takes more than it gives. With The Whiz Cells, you can sell your old iPhone easily while still getting a great deal. Since 2012, The Whiz Cells has paid out over $49 million to sellers all over the United States; so you can trust us 😉. And compared to other buybacks, we pay over 47% more on average for the same device.
Final Words
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max bring a faster chip, a genuinely more capable camera, and stronger battery life, all for $100 more than last year’s models. If an upgrade is in the cards, the smart move is turning last year’s iPhone into cash first.
The Whiz Cells makes that part easy: get a quote, send in the device, and receive payment within 24 hours of it arriving. With a 20 day price lock, there’s no pressure to accept an offer before the new phone even ships.
No need to wait any longer, get a quote for your iPhone now and lock down the price.
