iPhone 18 Pro Reviews Are In: Critics Call It a Refinement, Not a Reinvention

One week after launch, top reviewers agree the iPhone 18 Pro delivers real camera and chip gains — but say Apple's pricier iPhone Duo is stealing the spotlight.

By THRYV Reviews Desk·Published September 19, 2026·Updated September 19, 2026·3 min read

iPhone 18 Pro Reviews Are In: Critics Call It a Refinement, Not a Reinvention

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The takeaway

Reviews of Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are largely positive, praising the new A20 Pro chip and variable-aperture camera, but most outlets call the upgrade evolutionary rather than groundbreaking. Tom's Guide named it an Editor's Choice; others, including MKBHD and The Verge, note the pricier iPhone Duo foldable is drawing more buzz than the Pro line.

One week after Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max reached stores, reviews from major outlets are largely in agreement: the phones deliver real camera and performance gains, but most reviewers frame them as a refinement rather than a reinvention — and several note that Apple's separately launched iPhone Duo foldable is drawing more attention.

What's actually new

A20 Pro chip: Apple's first 2nm smartphone processor, with roughly 25-28% faster performance than the iPhone 17 Pro series, according to Tom's Guide testing
A 48MP main camera with a four-stage variable aperture (f/1.48 to f/4), plus 48MP ultrawide and 48MP telephoto (4x optical zoom) lenses
Battery life Tom's Guide clocked at 18 hours 27 minutes for the Pro Max and 16 hours 17 minutes for the Pro in its video-streaming test — Apple's longest-lasting iPhones yet
Pricing starts at $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $1,299 for the Pro Max, both with 256GB of storage

What reviewers are saying

Tom's Guide named the pair an Editor's Choice, calling them "easily the best phones money can buy" and highlighting the A20 Pro chip and variable-aperture camera as the standout upgrades. YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) described the release as more of an incremental "S release" than a leap forward, though he said the new chip offers "potential future value." The Verge took a more measured view, saying the camera's image-quality gains are "minor" regardless of a user's skill level. Journalist Joanna Stern confirmed Apple's claim that the Pro Max has the longest battery life of any iPhone, though she noted the improvement over the iPhone 17 Pro Max isn't dramatic.

The iPhone you're probably going to settle for.

GQ, on the iPhone 18 Pro's positioning beneath Apple's $2,000 iPhone Duo

That comparison comes up often: several reviewers noted that Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo — a separate, pricier device — has overshadowed the Pro line's launch. Even so, outlets including Mashable and GQ said the Pro remains the more practical purchase for most buyers, with Mashable noting it's less essential for existing iPhone 17 Pro owners but a bigger jump for anyone upgrading from older models.

Brands mentioned

Apple

Why you can trust this article

Written and edited in-house by the THRYV Reviews Desk. We do not republish or reword agency copy, and we do not invent quotes, statistics, testimonials or ratings. Where figures move frequently, we point you to the primary release rather than printing a number that will be out of date. Advertising and affiliate partnerships have no influence on our reporting — see our editorial standards, fact-checking policy and affiliate disclosure. Spotted an error? Write to newsroom@thryv-news.com.

General information only. Not personalised financial, medical or legal advice.

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