Apple iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max
Announced September 9, 2026
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max offer significant performance and battery life gains alongside a refined camera system featuring variable aperture and manual controls. While these devices represent a meaningful upgrade for power users and creatives, they come with a higher price tag and increased weight compared to previous generations.
Weighted from 21 reviewer scores
Pros
- High-performance A20 Pro chip with improved thermal management
- Versatile camera system with variable aperture and manual controls
- Exceptional battery life and faster charging capabilities
- Refined design with smaller Dynamic Island
- Advanced autofocus tracking and imaging features
Cons
- Increased price over previous models
- Heavier physical weight
- Limited utility of certain new features
- Lack of manual ISO and focus controls
- Thermal issues under heavy load
- Launch price $1,199–$1,299 (USD)
- Main camera 48MP f/1.48 + 48MP Ultrawide + 48MP 4x Telephoto
- Video 4K 120p
- Display 6.3-inch / 6.9-inch LTPO OLED 120Hz
- Chipset A20 Pro 12GB
What the Reviewers Say
All 21 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 8.5/10
Apple's updates sounded incremental on paper but in practice, the photographic experience feels markedly improved.
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So is the iPhone 18 Pro perfect? No... Is it expensive? Hell yeah. Is it exactly what we were expecting also? Yeah. And there's some value to that, too.
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It's very obvious that the 18 Pro and the 18 Pro Max hold their peak performance better than the previous generation.
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A moving aperture really doesn't do it for me, even if I appreciate the fringe benefits like sun stars. For the average person, this is not going to be a big deal.
- WIRED 9/10
There aren't any sweeping improvements to the camera lenses or sensors, but this is a system that shutterbugs will love to experiment with, and that's what the Pro iPhone is all about.
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If you prefer a larger screen and slightly longer battery life should instead opt for the iPhone 18 Pro Max [...]
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The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max take last year’s Pro reinvention and refine it in all the right places — but the cameras are where Apple has made the biggest leap [...]
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The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are for power users who don’t want to give up a traditional form factor or flagship features like a telephoto zoom.
- Engadget 9/10
Similarly, while none of the iPhone 18 Pro's latest features are things you should run out the door to spend money on, it's certainly a meaningful improvement for anyone on an iPhone 16 Pro or older.
- CNET 9.3/10
If you’re a creative type who enjoys manual camera controls, the 18 Pro or Pro Max belongs in your pocket. If you shoot lots of video, especially in darker environments, this phone is for you.
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It might not be the flashiest (or foldiest) of Apple’s line-up anymore, and it is still not the best value-for-money. But it remains the best phone on the market, and it just got quietly better.
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The iPhone 18 Pro takes the foundation of the iPhone 17 Pro and pushes it even further. There is a massive leap in performance, the camera is more capable, the Dynamic Island is smaller, and battery life is even better.
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I'm very happy with Apple's changes here.
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The 17 Pro was already the best smartphone video in my opinion, but the 18 Pro is just so much better.
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This was such an interesting year for updates. Both software and hardware was a long list of small things checked off and getting better, but the big things were kind of harder to explain.
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By almost every metric, the iPhone 18 Pros raise the ceiling of what a “pro” iPhone is even higher.
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Even if you're switching from an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max, iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max have significant updates that you're going to find very useful.
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If you’re a photographer, videographer, creator, or simply an advanced user who runs through battery life at twice the speed of mere mortals, then the new iPhones are pretty amazing, and you should get them despite the higher price.
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So clearly the iPhone 18 Pro is a beast. The iPhone 18 Pro Max, this is a beast beast.
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I love it, but it's not for everyone.
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I'm very surprised by this camera system, but there is a different imaging pipeline going into this.
