Apple has introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, a modest but notable update to its smaller Pro model, featuring improved battery life, enhanced processing power, and a new variable aperture for its main camera. The device was launched alongside Apple’s first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, and is currently the most affordable option in the company’s latest lineup. Pricing for the iPhone 18 Pro starts at £1,199 (approximately $1,449 or A$2,099), marking a £100 increase compared to the previous generation.
The design features subtle refinements rather than a full overhaul, with the phone weighing 7 grams more than its predecessor. The back glass now matches the color of the aluminium frame, which is offered in several new shades. Apple has also reduced the size of the front Face ID camera cutout, allowing the Dynamic Island interface to accommodate three concurrent activities, up from two, and now displays a 3G/4G/5G indicator when playing music—a feature appreciated by commuters.
The iPhone 18 Pro is equipped with a 6.3-inch screen that remains among the highest quality in the smartphone market, offering brightness, sharpness, smooth refresh rates, and an anti-glare coating to enhance outdoor visibility. Internally, the phone benefits from a redesigned cooling system to maintain peak performance during intensive tasks like gaming.
Battery life is significantly improved, with the phone lasting approximately six hours longer than the iPhone 17 Pro, allowing most users to go about two days between charges during typical use. Even with heavy usage, the device can retain around 40% battery by day’s end.
The phone launches with iOS 27, which brings incremental performance improvements and a redesigned user interface. The highlight is the revamped Siri, branded Siri AI, enhanced through Google’s artificial intelligence technologies. This iteration aims to offer more efficient responses and can interact throughout the device, integrating into Spotlight search and recognizing on-screen content, including camera views. Siri AI can suggest actions such as adding calendar events from messages or surfacing relevant email information during phone calls, though these features are limited to Apple’s native apps.
On the sustainability front, the battery is designed to maintain at least 80% capacity after more than 1,000 full charge cycles and is replaceable for £119. Screen repairs out of warranty cost £349. The device incorporates over 40% recycled materials, with Apple continuing trade-in and recycling programs that cover non-Apple products as well.
The camera system largely mirrors last year’s model, consisting of a front 18MP selfie camera and three 48MP rear cameras—a main lens, an ultrawide, and a 4x telephoto. The new variable aperture on the primary camera enables better low-light performance by widening the aperture to speed up night mode shots and reduce motion blur. Users can also manually adjust the aperture to create effects like starburst or control depth of field, though the impact on image aesthetics is subtle given the limitations of smartphone sensor size.
Additional camera upgrades include AI-driven focus tracking that maintains sharpness on moving subjects, enhanced customization options for photographic styles including texture and grain controls, and a new “Apple Reference Image” feature designed to verify the authenticity of photos at a pixel level, combating AI-generated image manipulation. Video capabilities remain strong, with the new ability to convert regular footage into cinematic mode post-capture.
Despite these improvements, the iPhone 18 Pro is seen as an incremental upgrade rather than a transformative one. The new A20 Pro chip delivers faster processing but offers marginal perceptible speed enhancements over previous models. The extended battery life and camera tweaks enhance usability without dramatically altering the user experience. The screen quality and build continue to receive praise, and the phone retains key features such as Face ID and USB-C connectivity.
Compared to rivals such as the Google Pixel 11 Pro (£1,079) and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (£1,359), the iPhone 18 Pro maintains a competitive position in the premium segment. While it represents the finest iteration of the smaller iPhone to date, the device’s higher price and relatively minor changes mean substantial upgrades are more evident to users moving from much older models.