iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: French pricing, variable aperture and battery life

Apple has introduced iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, focusing on photography, battery life and sustained performance. The 48MP Fusion Main camera gains variable aperture, A20 Pro is paired with a redesigned vapor chamber, and Siri AI arrives with iOS 27. In France, pricing starts at EUR 1,479 for Pro and EUR 1,629 for Pro Max with 256GB.

The short answer

French preorders open September 12 at 2 p.m., with availability on September 18. Both models come in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities and black, silver, glacier and burgundy finishes.

Variable aperture is a meaningful camera change

The official iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max shown from the front and rear.

The 48MP Fusion Main camera offers four apertures: f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4. A wider aperture admits more light for darker scenes. A narrower one increases depth of field, helping retain focus across multiple planes or control bright daylight exposures.

That control moves iPhone closer to a dedicated camera without removing small-sensor constraints. Computational processing remains central. Independent testing will need to assess transitions, corner sharpness and the practical benefit over automatic mode.

The system retains a 48MP ultrawide and 48MP Fusion telephoto. Video reaches 4K at 120 fps in Dolby Vision. Those capabilities serve creators but consume storage and battery quickly, making 256GB potentially restrictive for intensive video work.

A20 Pro and a larger vapor chamber

Apple combines A20 Pro with new chip packaging and a vapor chamber said to have three times the surface area of the previous generation. The company claims up to 40 percent higher sustained performance. “Sustained” matters: the design targets games, editing and AI computations that generate heat over several minutes.

Both phones include Apple's N1 networking chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, plus the C2 modem. Apple claims faster uploads with 15 percent less energy than C1X. Real results will vary by French carrier, frequencies and network conditions.

Pro Max makes battery its advantage

Apple advertises up to 36 hours of video playback for the eSIM iPhone 18 Pro and 45 hours for the eSIM Pro Max. With the appropriate adapter, wired charging can reach 50 percent in about fifteen minutes on Pro. Controlled tests do not predict a mixed day of 5G, photography, navigation and gaming.

Pro Max remains the logical choice for maximum endurance and screen size. It is also larger and less comfortable one-handed. The 6.3-inch Pro keeps the same chip and camera system in a more manageable body.

Siri AI will arrive gradually

iOS 27 introduces Siri AI in beta. English comes first, with French expected in October. Some functions may remain unavailable by region, so buying solely for a future AI demonstration would be premature.

A20 Pro can accelerate on-device models, while heavier processing uses Private Cloud Compute. Users should still inspect app permissions and actual European availability.

Should iPhone 17 Pro owners upgrade?

Variable aperture, cooling and battery are concrete improvements, but iPhone 17 Pro is still recent and supported. Upgrading makes the most sense for photo or video production that will use these tools, a failing battery or the need for 2TB storage.

Everyone else can wait for independent measurements of endurance, thermals and modem quality. iPhone 18 Pro looks like the balanced option, while Pro Max primarily buys more screen and battery.