The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max were announced on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with pre-orders opening September 12 and both devices going on sale on Friday, September 18, 2026. The two devices mark Apple’s most significant internal silicon shift in years, introducing its first 2-nanometer smartphone chip and extending the company’s departure from Qualcomm modems to the Pro line.
A 2nm chip arrives in the iPhone
Apple revealed the A20 Pro chip in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, built on a new architecture using 2nm process technology. Apple described the A20 Pro as “an exceptional chip that sets a new bar for mobile computing.” The event was the first for the company following a CEO transition, with John Ternus leading the presentation. John Ternus became Apple’s chief executive officer effective September 1, 2026, succeeding Tim Cook. The A20 Pro debuted alongside a new in-house modem, the C2.
The A20 Pro features a new architecture built on 2nm technology, with smaller and more densely packed transistors that Apple says enable upgrades across the entire chip. Its six-core CPU includes two supercores that Apple says are up to 20% faster and four efficiency cores. All are integrated with neural accelerators for low-latency AI workloads. The GPU has a seven-core design that Apple says enables up to a 40% performance increase. The A20 Pro features an additional Neural Engine, bringing the total core count to 32.
Apple says memory bandwidth is up 50% over the A19 Pro. New neural accelerators built into the GPU offer twice the FP8 performance of the previous generation, which helps the chip run large language models locally on the device. The chip supports on-device AI, computational photography, gaming, Apple Intelligence, and new Siri experiences in iOS 27.
The A20 Pro also powers Apple’s new foldable iPhone Duo, which debuted at the same September 9 event. Apple describes the chip as designed to deliver performance for years to come.
C2 modem extends Qualcomm’s exit on the Pro line
Apple debuted its custom-designed C2 cellular modem in the new iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone Duo, replacing Qualcomm hardware on those models. Apple’s first-generation C1 modem debuted in the iPhone 16e in February 2025, and the second-generation C1X debuted in the iPhone Air in September 2025. The third-generation C2 modem has now arrived in the iPhone 18 Pro, continuing Apple’s transition away from Qualcomm.
The C2 modem supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G, and Apple says it includes AI improvements to cellular quality and reliability. The C2 delivers faster uploads compared to the C1X while consuming 15 percent less energy, and now supports mmWave in the U.S.
Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro has a C2 modem worldwide, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses the chip in every country except for the U.S. iOS 27 code indicates that the U.S. iPhone 18 Pro Max is equipped with a Qualcomm modem instead of the C2 chip. Apple has not provided an explanation for this modem difference.
Variable aperture and battery gains round out the upgrade
The two Pro iPhones introduce a new main camera with a bigger sensor and variable aperture, plus the A20 Pro chip built on the 2nm node. A more efficient processor and larger battery extend battery life, giving the iPhone 18 Pro models the longest battery life of any iPhone to date.
Both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max come in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage options. The A20 Pro chipset and on-device AI improvements are among the other highlights. Apple has also confirmed faster peak USB-C charging with a compatible USB PD cable, according to Apple’s technical specifications page.
September 2026 has turned into the most crowded smartphone launch window in recent memory, with more than twenty new phones from nearly every major brand packed into a single four-week stretch. Android brands are shifting from the “Ultra” name to “Pro Max” to adjust specs and slightly lower prices to better compete with Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max.
For shoppers weighing connected health devices alongside their upgrade, Google’s Fitbit Air also launched this season as a $99 screenless tracker with a built-in Gemini health coach, while smart rings continue to attract buyers who want continuous biometric data without reaching for a phone at all.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro start at $1,199, while the Pro Max starts at $1,299. Apple has not announced US pricing changes beyond the storage tier additions. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max went on sale Friday, September 18.
