iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: our first hands-on impressions

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have been unveiled, featuring a familiar design with new color options and significant camera upgrades. Key improvements include a variable-aperture lens and enhanced pro-level controls within the native camera app.
Why it matters
These updates represent the latest iteration of Apple's flagship smartphone line, focusing on incremental hardware improvements and software-driven photography features.
We’ve just gotten our hands on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at Apple Park following the company’s “Surprise and shine” presentation.
The new phones look quite similar to the previous iPhone 17 Pro lineup, keeping the same general design, aluminum body, and screen sizes. The 18 Pro lineup comes in four colors: black, silver, “glacier” (which is blue), and burgundy, and they now have color-matched glass on the back that blends in more seamlessly with the body.
[Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/DSC04225.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
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