iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Everything Apple changed

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models are priced $100 higher than their predecessors, with pre-orders starting on September 12 and a launch on September 18. Apple has added four new color options for the 18 Pro Max: burgundy, black, silver, and glacier blue. The previous black color option was not available on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The design of the new phones remains largely the same as the 17 Pro Max, with only minor differences in weight (18 Pro Max is slightly heavier due to a larger battery and new components). The camera system is the most significant upgrade, featuring a physical variable aperture on the main camera lens for better control of lighting and depth of field, smart focus tracking, cinematic video effects, and improved low-light photography.

Additionally, there is a new image authentication feature called Apple Reference Image to ensure the image is not AI-generated. The iPhone 18 Pro Max also introduces Pro Controls, allowing users to manually adjust lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and more. The battery life of the 18 Pro Max is significantly increased, offering up to 45 hours of video playback, which is 6 more hours compared to the previous model.

Apple claims this is the largest increase in battery life ever on an iPhone. Visually, a smaller Dynamic Island cutout on the iPhone 18 Pro Max allows for a third activity display within the feature, despite the reduced size of the cutout itself. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is powered by Apple's redesigned A20 Pro chip, which is both more powerful and efficient than its predecessor. The company also redesigned its vapor chamber system to maintain optimal performance.