More powerful A20 Pro chip, focused on AI
At the "Surprise and Shine" event, a notable upgrade on iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max introduced was the A20 Pro chip with 2nm technology.
The new chip has a 6-core CPU, including 2 performance cores and 4 energy-saving cores. Apple says the new performance cores are up to 20% faster and achieve the highest performance on smartphones.
The GPU is also upgraded to 7 cores, giving graphics processing capabilities up to 40% faster. The A20 Pro is also enhanced with AI processing capabilities with new Neural Accelerators.
Apple says the new chip has a 32-core Neural Engine, which better supports AI tasks directly on the device, including the ability to run large third-party language model applications.
Improved battery life
iPhone 18 Pro has a maximum video playback time of 36 hours, while iPhone 18 Pro Max reaches 45 hours.
According to normal usage, the two versions can operate up to 24 hours and 30 hours respectively.
Wireless fast charging capability is also improved. Apple says the device can charge 50% of the battery in about 15 minutes. Only 5 minutes of charging can provide enough energy to watch videos for about 6 hours.
Apple's introduction photo also shows that iPhone 18 Pro is equipped with a new generation indoor cooling system, to support maintaining performance when the machine operates at high intensity.
48MP camera with changed aperture
The 48MP main camera is one of the most notable upgrades on the iPhone 18 Pro.
The new camera system is equipped with a variable aperture, allowing control of the amount of light entering the lens as well as the depth of field. The camera can automatically adjust the aperture based on shooting conditions; in low-light environments, the aperture can be expanded to capture more light.
Apple also added Pro Controls feature, allowing users to manually adjust parameters such as white balance, brightness chart, aperture and shutter speed.
Subject tracking capability is also upgraded with AI on the device, helping the machine maintain focus on the subject and maintain detail even when the subject temporarily exits the frame and then returns.
Many upgrades for video recording
iPhone 18 Pro continues to be focused by Apple on video recording capabilities. Users can create cinematic effects right from regular videos, while using professional image control tools.
Apple also introduced 4K Dolby Vision HDR time-lapse recording capability and 60 fps slow motion mode.
The Audio Mix feature is improved to support audio processing, while professional camera tools can be used for both photography and video recording.
Dynamic Island displays more activities
Dynamic Island on iPhone 18 Pro is also upgraded. According to information in the event, this area can display up to three Live Activities at the same time, helping users follow many live activities on the screen.
Apple continues to combine Dynamic Island with AI features and direct processing capabilities on the device.
Apple Reference Image protects image data
Another new feature is Apple Reference Image. Apple Reference Image creates a signature for pixel-level image data as soon as the image is taken, helping to authenticate the origin and ensure the image is not changed.
