{
  "id": 16930588,
  "title": "The iPhone 18 Pro is my Phone of the Year because it feels like the best of an ending era",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/the-iphone-18-pro-is-my-phone-of-the-year-because-it-feels-like-the",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-28T16:51:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/the-iphone-18-pro-is-my-phone-of-the-year-because-its-the-swiss-army-knife-of-flagships-and-possibly-the-end-of-an-era"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In an industry year dominated by the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Honor Robot Phone, and the recent launch of the iPhone Duo, some may find it surprising that TechRadar has chosen the iPhone 18 Pro as its Phone of the Year. However, there is a quiet brilliance to Apple's latest flagship that makes it a worthy contender. While other devices may boast larger camera sensors, bigger batteries, or variable aperture features, the iPhone 18 Pro stands out for its well-rounded performance and simplicity.\n\nThe phone's muted exterior, with its Burgundy shade, may not draw attention, but underneath lies a device that consistently impresses. The iPhone 18 Pro offers market-leading performance, a stunning OLED display, impressive battery life, and refreshingly simple software. While other phones may have more advanced camera sensors or larger batteries, the iPhone 18 Pro delivers an 8/10-level experience or better across the board.\n\nApple's recent updates to Siri AI in iOS 27 have significantly improved the device's capabilities, making the iPhone 18 Pro feel less limited compared to competitors. Despite being an iterative upgrade, the iPhone 18 Pro remains familiar and formidable, catering to users who aren't upgrading from a previous-generation flagship. The arrival of new form-factor devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and iPhone Duo may remind consumers not to take the iPhone 18 Pro for granted.\n\nAs consumers berate Apple for shipping \"boring\" new-generation iPhones, critics of the Duo joke about its thickness and lack of features. However, the consistency of Apple's flagship phones is often overlooked, similar to how soccer star Erling Haaland is normalized in sports conversations. Haaland, who regularly scores 30+ goals every season, is often taken for granted, just as the iPhone 18 Pro is considered a \"boring\" choice in the smartphone world.\n\nWith foldable devices becoming mainstream and smartphones being replaced by wearable technology, the era of candybar flagships may be nearing its end. Despite this, the iPhone 18 Pro remains a powerful choice, embodying what \"peak smartphone\" looks like. It is the right choice, even if it is the \"boring\" option.",
  "summary": "The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is our Phone of the Year for 2026 — here's why.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}