iPhone 18 Pro reviews praise variable aperture camera, 2nm chip

Reviews of Apple's ↘ 0.80% iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max have landed, and the consensus is clear: despite a familiar exterior, the phones deliver substantial upgrades under the hood. The devices, which went on sale September 18 starting at $1,199 and $1,299 respectively, pack a new 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, a variable aperture camera system, and longer battery life than any iPhone before them.popularmechanics+2

The A20 Pro Chip Sets a New Bar

At the heart of both phones is the A20 Pro processor, built on TSMC's 2-nanometer process. Early Geekbench results show roughly 21% to 23% faster single-core performance and 27% to 28% faster multi-core performance compared to the A19 Pro in last year's iPhone 17 Pro. The GPU gains are even more pronounced, with the new seven-core GPU delivering up to 40% faster graphics performance. Apple also redesigned the chip's vapor chamber cooling system, enabling up to 40% better sustained performance during demanding tasks like gaming.macrumors

"During testing, I couldn't find a way to tax the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max to the point where an app slowed down," wrote Popular Mechanics reviewer Stefan Vazharov.popularmechanics

A Camera That Thinks Like a Dedicated Shooter

The headline camera feature is a variable aperture lens on the 48-megapixel main camera, a first for any iPhone. The system offers four aperture levels — f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4.0 — giving photographers direct control over depth of field and exposure. The variable aperture works across all focal lengths on the main camera, and an auto mode handles settings for those who prefer to let the phone decide.gsmarena+1

Battery Life and Design Refinements

Battery life testing has drawn particular praise. CNN Underscored reported the iPhone 18 Pro Max played 4K video for over 30 hours, the longest it has ever recorded for any phone. Tom's Guide found the Pro Max lasted 18 hours and 27 minutes on its web browsing test, calling it "the longest-lasting iPhone we have ever benchmarked". Both models can reach 50 percent charge in about 15 minutes with a 60-watt adapter.cnn+3

The Dynamic Island has also shrunk by 25 percent, now supporting up to three simultaneous live activities. The phones run iOS 27 and come in four colors: black, silver, burgundy, and glacier. GSMArena's review characterized the update cycle candidly: "In 2026, it almost feels like Samsung, Google Alphabet Inc. ↘ 3.58% and Apple are all racing to see who can upgrade the fewest things and call it a day".mashable+2