iPhone 18 pro series storms global market with bigger upgrades

Apple’s latest premium smartphones, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, have hit global stores, putting a new camera system, the A20 Pro chip and expanded AI features in the hands of consumers.

The new Pro models became available on Friday (September 18), following pre-orders that opened on September 12. Apple unveiled the devices on September 9, positioning them around major upgrades in photography, performance and battery life.

For Bangladeshi Apple enthusiasts, attention is now turning to the local market, where the latest Pro iPhones are expected to appear through imported and unofficial retail channels. 

Bangladeshi mobile-market listings currently put the iPhone 18 Pro at around Tk 2.0–2.1 lakh, although prices can vary depending on storage capacity, import route, taxes and retailer margins. These figures should not be treated as official Apple Bangladesh prices.

Glacier offers a more contemporary appearance, and Silver remains a familiar choice for users who prefer a clean and elegant finish.

Price starts at $1,199

In the US, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299.

Camera gets the biggest makeover

The headline upgrade is Apple’s new 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with variable aperture—a first for an iPhone.

The aperture can move between f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0, allowing the camera to control how much light enters the lens and how much of a scene remains in focus. Users can also manually control aperture, shutter speed and white balance through the new Pro Controls.

The system is joined by 48MP Ultra Wide and 48MP Telephoto cameras, with the telephoto system offering up to 8x optical-quality zoom.

For journalists, content creators and mobile photographers, the combination of variable aperture and manual controls could be particularly useful when shooting in changing light or capturing subjects at different distances.

A20 Pro powers the new generation

Under the hood, both models feature Apple’s A20 Pro chip, paired with a redesigned vapour-chamber thermal system aimed at maintaining high performance during demanding workloads.

Apple says the new Pro models deliver its highest sustained performance yet, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max gets the biggest battery-life increase ever seen on an iPhone Pro model.

AI moves further into the iPhone

The iPhone 18 Pro series runs on iOS 27 and brings new Apple Intelligence capabilities, including Siri AI.

The phones also feature a smaller Dynamic Island and come in four finishes—black, silver, glacier and the new burgundy.

The iPhone 18 Pro series thus enters the market with its biggest selling points clearly focused on camera control, processing power, battery endurance and AI-powered features—areas Apple is increasingly using to distinguish its premium smartphones.

A20 Pro chip for faster performance
Advanced 48MP camera system with improved photography
Up to 8x optical-quality zoom
18MP Center Stage front camera
Pro video features including 4K Dolby Vision and ProRes
Up to 36 hours of video playback on Pro and 45 hours on Pro Max
6.3-inch and 6.9-inch ProMotion displays with up to 120Hz refresh rate
Smaller Dynamic Island and improved cooling system
Up to 2TB storage