98
GizmodoT2Sep 16, 2026
“By almost every metric, the iPhone 18 Pros raise the ceiling of what a "pro" iPhone is even higher.”
By Raymond Wong · Rated 4.5/5Full review
Phone
iPhone 18 Pro
Apple · From $1,199
Release date Sep 18, 2026
90
Critical Gold
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
16 with a published score, 2 scored from text · How it works
Latest review Oct 19, 2026
14 Rave4 Positive
Critics' Take
Critics call the iPhone 18 Pro an excellent but iterative upgrade. The A20 Pro chip, longer battery life and a variable-aperture main camera with manual controls earn near-universal praise, while the unchanged design, extra weight and $100 price increase leave most reviewers telling iPhone 17 Pro owners to wait.
What critics loved
- A20 Pro performance, with better cooling than the 17 Pro
- Battery life and faster charging
- Variable-aperture main camera and new manual controls
Common gripes
- $100 more than last year's model
- Little visible change from the iPhone 17 Pro
- Heavier than its predecessor
- Siri AI still feels unfinished
Critic Scorecard
18 reviewsSort:
Weighted by outlet tier:T1100%T275%T340%T420%
96
TechRadarT2★ Editors' ChoiceSep 16, 2026
“The A20 Pro brings plenty of power, battery life is excellent, thermals are noticeably better, and Siri AI finally starts delivering on Apple's long-running promise.”
By Jacob Krol · Rated 5/5Full review
96
PickrT3Oct 19, 2026
“The iPhone 18 Pro is a compact powerhouse and easy to recommend.”
By Leigh Stark · Rated 4.7/5Full review
95
Tom's GuideT2★ Editors' ChoiceSep 16, 2026
“You have to pay $100 more for both Pro phones, and they're heavier than their predecessors, but overall these are easily the best phones money can buy.”
By Mark Spoonauer · Rated 4.5/5Full review
95
What Hi-Fi?T3Oct 8, 2026
“The big upgrades lie elsewhere, but the iPhone 18 Pro is still a small improvement over its predecessor for movies and music, and a stunning portable AV device in its own right”
Audio and video focused review.
By Tom Parsons and Lewis Empson · Rated 5/5Full review
95
Expert ReviewsT3Oct 1, 2026
“The Apple iPhone 18 Pro isn't the flashiest phone Apple launched this year, but it is a superb one.”
By Britta O'Boyle · Rated 5/5Full review
Show 12 more reviews ▾Show fewer ▴
94
Trusted ReviewsT2Oct 6, 2026
“Small updates here and there make the iPhone 18 Pro an easy recommendation, even if it's more of a 'S' upgrade rather than a fully-fledged revolution.”
By Max Parker · Rated 4.5/5Full review
93
EngadgetT1Sep 16, 2026
“If you care about the best cameras and performance from Apple's current product lineup, the iPhone 18 Pro series is the way to go.”
By Cherlynn Low · Rated 9/10Full review
93
WiredT1Sep 16, 2026
“That said, if you're a Pro connoisseur, the iPhone 18 Pro ($1,199) and its bigger sibling, the 18 Pro Max ($1,299), are very good phones, despite the $100 price hike over last year's Pro models.”
By Julian Chokkattu · Rated 9/10Full review
93
CNETT1★ Editors' ChoiceSep 16, 2026
“If you're a creative type who enjoys manual camera controls, the 18 Pro or Pro Max belongs in your pocket.”
Joint review of the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max; the outlet's score is published for the Pro Max.
By Patrick Holland · Rated 9.3/10Full review
92
Tech AdvisorT3Oct 8, 2026
“It's a year of iterative upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro, but that doesn't mean it's not a compelling package.”
By Emma Rowley · Rated 4.5/5Full review
89
NotebookcheckT3Oct 10, 2026
“The Apple iPhone 18 Pro proves to be an ambitious flagship smartphone in our review, packing maximum performance into a compact body.”
By Marcus Herbrich · Rated 90%Full review
87
9to5MacT2Sep 16, 2026
“If the iPhone Duo is the new kid on the block, the iPhone 18 Pro is a familiar old friend, and I mean that in the best way possible.”
By Chance Miller · Unrated, scored from textFull review
86
GSMArenaT3Sep 25, 2026
“But if the budget allows and you are looking for a premium compact phone, the iPhone 18 Pro is definitely one of the best you can get right now.”
Staff review · Unrated, scored from textFull review
83
MashableT2Sep 16, 2026
“At first glance, the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max look a lot like last year's models, and we wouldn't rush to upgrade if you have a 17 Pro.”
Joint review of the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max; the outlet's score is published for the Pro Max.
By Stan Schroeder · Rated 4.25/5Full review
82
PCMagT2Sep 16, 2026
“Apple's iPhone 18 Pro combines blazing performance, exceptional battery life, and professional-level cameras into a compact, hand-friendly frame.”
By Florence Ion · Rated 4/5Full review
81
Digital TrendsT2Oct 18, 2026
“But after using this phone every day for over a month, none of those things have made me question my decision to upgrade.”
By Shimul Sood · Rated 8/10Full review
79
The VergeT1Sep 16, 2026
“It's what we've come to expect from what was the flagship iPhone: excellent and utterly iterative.”
By Allison Johnson · Rated 8/10Full review
96
PickrT3Oct 19, 2026
“The iPhone 18 Pro is a compact powerhouse and easy to recommend.”
By Leigh Stark · Rated 4.7/5Full review
81
Digital TrendsT2Oct 18, 2026
“But after using this phone every day for over a month, none of those things have made me question my decision to upgrade.”
By Shimul Sood · Rated 8/10Full review
89
NotebookcheckT3Oct 10, 2026
“The Apple iPhone 18 Pro proves to be an ambitious flagship smartphone in our review, packing maximum performance into a compact body.”
By Marcus Herbrich · Rated 90%Full review
95
What Hi-Fi?T3Oct 8, 2026
“The big upgrades lie elsewhere, but the iPhone 18 Pro is still a small improvement over its predecessor for movies and music, and a stunning portable AV device in its own right”
Audio and video focused review.
By Tom Parsons and Lewis Empson · Rated 5/5Full review
92
Tech AdvisorT3Oct 8, 2026
“It's a year of iterative upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro, but that doesn't mean it's not a compelling package.”
By Emma Rowley · Rated 4.5/5Full review
94
Trusted ReviewsT2Oct 6, 2026
“Small updates here and there make the iPhone 18 Pro an easy recommendation, even if it's more of a 'S' upgrade rather than a fully-fledged revolution.”
By Max Parker · Rated 4.5/5Full review
Show 12 more reviews ▾Show fewer ▴
95
Expert ReviewsT3Oct 1, 2026
“The Apple iPhone 18 Pro isn't the flashiest phone Apple launched this year, but it is a superb one.”
By Britta O'Boyle · Rated 5/5Full review
86
GSMArenaT3Sep 25, 2026
“But if the budget allows and you are looking for a premium compact phone, the iPhone 18 Pro is definitely one of the best you can get right now.”
Staff review · Unrated, scored from textFull review
98
GizmodoT2Sep 16, 2026
“By almost every metric, the iPhone 18 Pros raise the ceiling of what a "pro" iPhone is even higher.”
By Raymond Wong · Rated 4.5/5Full review
96
TechRadarT2★ Editors' ChoiceSep 16, 2026
“The A20 Pro brings plenty of power, battery life is excellent, thermals are noticeably better, and Siri AI finally starts delivering on Apple's long-running promise.”
By Jacob Krol · Rated 5/5Full review
95
Tom's GuideT2★ Editors' ChoiceSep 16, 2026
“You have to pay $100 more for both Pro phones, and they're heavier than their predecessors, but overall these are easily the best phones money can buy.”
By Mark Spoonauer · Rated 4.5/5Full review
93
EngadgetT1Sep 16, 2026
“If you care about the best cameras and performance from Apple's current product lineup, the iPhone 18 Pro series is the way to go.”
By Cherlynn Low · Rated 9/10Full review
93
WiredT1Sep 16, 2026
“That said, if you're a Pro connoisseur, the iPhone 18 Pro ($1,199) and its bigger sibling, the 18 Pro Max ($1,299), are very good phones, despite the $100 price hike over last year's Pro models.”
By Julian Chokkattu · Rated 9/10Full review
93
CNETT1★ Editors' ChoiceSep 16, 2026
“If you're a creative type who enjoys manual camera controls, the 18 Pro or Pro Max belongs in your pocket.”
Joint review of the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max; the outlet's score is published for the Pro Max.
By Patrick Holland · Rated 9.3/10Full review
87
9to5MacT2Sep 16, 2026
“If the iPhone Duo is the new kid on the block, the iPhone 18 Pro is a familiar old friend, and I mean that in the best way possible.”
By Chance Miller · Unrated, scored from textFull review
83
MashableT2Sep 16, 2026
“At first glance, the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max look a lot like last year's models, and we wouldn't rush to upgrade if you have a 17 Pro.”
Joint review of the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max; the outlet's score is published for the Pro Max.
By Stan Schroeder · Rated 4.25/5Full review
82
PCMagT2Sep 16, 2026
“Apple's iPhone 18 Pro combines blazing performance, exceptional battery life, and professional-level cameras into a compact, hand-friendly frame.”
By Florence Ion · Rated 4/5Full review
79
The VergeT1Sep 16, 2026
“It's what we've come to expect from what was the flagship iPhone: excellent and utterly iterative.”
By Allison Johnson · Rated 8/10Full review
Quick Facts
- Display
- 6.3-inch OLED, ProMotion up to 120Hz, 3000 nits outdoor peak
- Chip
- A20 Pro (2nm)
- Rear cameras
- 48MP main with variable aperture (f/1.48 to f/4.0), 48MP ultra wide, 48MP 4x telephoto
- Front camera
- 18MP Center Stage
- Battery
- Up to 36 hours video playback; 50% in about 15 minutes
- Weight
- 211 g
- Storage
- 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Price
- From $1,199 (Pro Max from $1,299)