Abstract:
A few days after the autumn new product launch event concluded, Apple’s new generation candybar flagship phones iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max officially opened pre-orders simultaneously in dozens of countries and regions around the world today (September 12).
As the absolute top-of-the-line models among Apple’s candy bar models this year, the two new models are launched with TSMC’s first 2-nanometer process A20 Pro chip, mechanical variable aperture camera module, and comprehensively reconstructed end-side artificial intelligence experience. The first batch of pre-orders are expected to be officially shipped and delivered starting Friday, September 18, and offline retail will be launched simultaneously.
In terms of the most critical selling prices and configuration levels, Apple has reorganized its storage echelon on its two Pro flagships in the face of severe pressure from the recent rise in global high-bandwidth storage semiconductors and advanced process wafer foundry costs. The new generation of iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max completely bid farewell to the 128GB capacity, directly increasing the starting storage capacity to 256GB, and providing 512GB and 1TB specifications for consumers to choose. Affected by this, the starting price of iPhone 18 Pro is set at US$1,099, and the starting price of the large-screen version of iPhone 18 Pro Max is set at US$1,199. Compared with the previous generation, the nominal entry threshold has been raised by US$100, but in exchange for doubling the starting storage and more powerful high-speed hardware specifications.
In terms of core hardware and technology upgrades, the iPhone 18 Pro series is equipped with the industry's epoch-making A20 Pro chip for the first time. With its breakthrough 2-nanometer underlying micro-architecture and redesigned body vapor chamber cooling system, it has significantly increased peak sustained performance release and end-side large model throughput computing power. In terms of appearance and interaction, the Smart Island area of the front Super Retina XDR display has been further narrowed, and it has been upgraded to support parallel display and seamless switching of up to three real-time activity tasks; in terms of imaging systems, both models are not only equipped with high-power periscope folding telephoto lenses as standard, but are also the first to introduce precision mechanical variable aperture technology in the main camera module, allowing professional creators to achieve physical-level optical blur adjustment under different low light and depth of field requirements.
This pre-order is launched at a unified pace in major time zones around the world. Consumers can already lock orders through Apple’s official online store, Apple Store official app, large authorized e-commerce platforms and major telecom operators. For users who participate in Apple's official "iPhone Upgrade Program", the system has opened a pre-approval process before the pre-order is launched, allowing consumers to complete payment settlement with one click as soon as the channel is opened. Official logistics tracking information shows that the first batch of users who have completed reservations will receive the first batch of new machines on September 18. At that time, major offline Apple Stores around the world will also welcome spot sales and reservations to pick up the machines.
Market observers pointed out that since the official digital version of iPhone 18 has been postponed by Apple to the spring of 2027, and the 10,000-yuan foldable flagship iPhone Duo will not start shipping until October, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which are available for pre-order today, actually assume the main backbone responsibility of supporting Apple's entire golden replacement cycle in the fall of 2026. Judging from channel feedback and shipping schedules in the early stages of pre-orders, despite facing an increase in starting prices, core technology geeks and high-end stock users are still enthusiastic about the 2nm advanced process computing power and professional imaging upgrades. The estimated delivery time of many popular large-capacity color matching versions has been postponed for several weeks in just tens of minutes, indicating the strong momentum of this series to attract money in the high-end market.
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