Apple's new flagship smartphones, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, go on sale in two days—September 18. However, some major tech media outlets and bloggers have already received test devices early to publish their reviews. Let's see what journalists liked most about the devices, what puzzled them, and what general conclusions they draw.

The Verge

Journalist Edison Johnson from the publication had a chance to spend time with the new flagships. In her brief review, she first points to the manual exposure controls in the native Camera app as a plus for the 18 Pro/18 Pro Max, though she notes that the improvement in photo quality is "minor."

Among the drawbacks, she mentions the increased prices. The base model (256 GB) has gone up by $100 in the US, and the price is even higher for models with more storage.

"The main task of the iPhone camera is to always take quality photos by default, no matter what. The new aperture control mechanism offers some advantages in this regard," Johnson notes. However, in the end of her review, she concludes that most future users are unlikely to constantly use the manual aperture control.

"If you're not expecting revolutionary changes in the camera's performance, the iPhone 18 Pro is exactly what you were waiting for: a slightly improved version of its predecessor," the text summarizes.

Engadget

Sherlyn Lowe prepared the article on the new smartphones. She believes the overall rating that should be given to the 18 Pro/18 Pro Max is 9 out of 10. According to her, the main point of contention lies in Siri AI, the AI system that is still in beta. At the same time, the pluses include "excellent versatile cameras, beautiful case colors," as well as "well-thought-out photo and video shooting functions."

At the end of the text, it is clarified that against the backdrop of the upcoming October release of the iPhone Duo, the new iPhone 18 Pro models are "definitely perceived as S-series devices." "The new features of the iPhone 18 Pro are unlikely to make you rush to the store; this device will be a significant step forward for those who use the iPhone 16 Pro or older models," the publication clarifies.

And they add: in their opinion, "among all iPhones available today, the 18 Pro has the best camera system." At the same time, the aperture control capabilities "will be appreciated by all those who are at least a little interested in manual shooting settings."

The price increase was also mentioned, noting that with the more expensive iPhone 17 — which has essentially become the "base" model — the gap between the standard and Pro devices hasn't changed. In the US, for base configurations, it amounts to $300.

CNET

In his review, Patrick Holland writes that the top-tier iPhone 18 Pro Max boasts "excellent cameras, fast charging, durable performance, and superior depth-of-field separation." The main drawbacks, in his opinion, are the high price, large weight, and the inability to adjust the aperture via the Camera Control button.

"If you're a creative person who likes to control the camera manually, the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max is what you need. If you shoot a lot of video, especially in low-light conditions, this phone is for you," the article states.

They also summarize: real changes will be most noticeable to those upgrading from an iPhone 14 Pro or older models. Owners of an iPhone 15 Pro are instead recommended to simply replace the battery, "rather than buying a new phone given the current economic situation."

Users of the iPhone 16 Pro and 17 Pro, according to the piece, should logically just "wait calmly [for the update] until next year."

9to5mac

Journalist Chance Miller notes in his publication's review that the iPhone 18 Pro builds on the foundation of its direct predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro, but "raises the bar even higher."

In particular, Miller talks about a "performance leap, an improved camera, a smaller Dynamic Island, and increased battery life." However, according to the material, "there is a downside to all of this." The issue is the increased weight of the devices compared to last year's models.

"If you already have an iPhone 17 Pro, there are no special reasons to upgrade to the iPhone 18 Pro. But I would recommend an owner of an iPhone 16 Pro or older models to take advantage of a suitable moment and update," the reviewer concludes.