Overview
- Apple shipped the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max after preorders opened and the lineup arrived on September 18, introducing an A20 Pro chip and a mechanical variable‑aperture 48MP main camera that gives users physical control over aperture, shutter speed, white balance, histogram and new cinematic and tracking tools.
- Early market data point to strong demand in China where third‑party estimates put first‑week Pro series sales at about 1.3 million units and to rising interest in India where demand for the iPhone 18 Pro is reported up nearly 20% versus the same point last year.
- Apple also launched the iPhone Duo as a $1,999 foldable that offers a large 7.6‑inch canvas but omits several Pro hardware and video features such as the mechanical aperture, Action Button, ProRAW/ProRes and Log recording, forcing clear tradeoffs for buyers weighing portability against pro imaging.
- Some early buyers reported overheating, speaker problems and Face ID failures, and Apple issued iOS 27.0.1 to address Face ID issues hours after reports surfaced, illustrating fast software responses to launch defects.
- Analysts note Apple raised base storage and prices while steering promotions and inventory toward higher‑margin Pro and Duo models, a move that reflects supply choices, repair complexity tied to the new mechanical aperture, and a broader shift as Apple experiments with new designs ahead of a planned form‑factor change next year.