Apple has unveiled its new flagship smartphones, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which feature significant improvements in camera capabilities, extended battery life, and a more powerful A20 Pro chip.
The new models were announced on Wednesday evening, with Apple focusing on enhancing artificial intelligence features, performance, and photography. These updated Pro models are designed to give users greater control over the shooting process while boosting overall daily performance.
A key change is the introduction of a new 48MP Fusion main camera, which allows the iPhone to use a variable aperture for the first time. This enables the camera to adjust the amount of light entering the lens, thereby giving users more control over the look of their photos.
Greg Joswiak, Apple's Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, stated that the company focused on the most important aspects for users, including intelligence, battery, camera, and performance. He emphasized that the iPhone 18 Pro simplifies the creation of stunning photos and videos through the variable aperture, offering greater versatility for content creators and more control for professionals.
The camera system is designed to improve image quality for casual users while providing advanced capabilities for professionals. The variable aperture can automatically adjust based on lighting and depth of field, and users can manually select one of four aperture settings via the Camera app. Additionally, the app includes new professional controls allowing users to adjust parameters such as shutter speed, white balance, and aperture. A new histogram display helps photographers control exposure during shooting.
The iPhone 18 Pro models also received video enhancements. Users can now apply cinematic effects to videos shot at up to 60 frames per second, and the timelapse mode supports 4K and Dolby Vision HDR formats.
How Much Will the Phones Cost in South Africa
Apple has not yet published official prices for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in South Africa; however, starting prices in the US may offer insight into potential local pricing. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 USD (equivalent to 19,230 Rand), and the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts from $1,299 USD (20,830 Rand). According to launch information, this is $100 USD (1,604 Rand) more expensive than the previous generation's starting prices.
Buyers in South Africa are likely to pay an amount exceeding the direct exchange rate of these prices, as local pricing accounts for factors such as taxes, duties, distribution, and Apple's regional pricing policy.
In South Africa, iStore currently offers the iPhone 17 Pro 256GB for 27,999 Rand, although it is currently on sale for 24,999 Rand. The iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB has a standard price of 30,699 Rand and is currently available at a reduced price of 27,999 Rand.
Applying the percentage increase from US to local products allows for approximate estimates: 30,550 Rand for the iPhone 18 Pro and 33,250 Rand for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Nevertheless, it should be understood that these are only assumptions, and the official local pricing structure may differ significantly.