CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA: Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, placing professional photography, artificial intelligence and sustained performance at the heart of its latest flagship smartphones.

The headline upgrade is a new 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture—a feature that gives users greater control over light, focus and depth of field. Apple has also equipped the phones with its new A20 Pro chip, a next-generation vapour chamber, improved battery life and a smaller, more functional Dynamic Island.

Both models will run iOS 27 and bring together Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, turning the new Pro models into more context-aware personal devices while keeping privacy and on-device processing central to the experience.

The biggest camera change is hidden inside the lens

The most interesting addition to the iPhone 18 Pro lineup is its variable-aperture system. Instead of relying on a single fixed aperture, the 48MP Fusion Main camera can adjust the amount of light entering the lens and change how much of a scene remains in focus.

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The camera supports f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0 aperture settings. A wider aperture can help produce brighter images in difficult lighting, while narrower settings allow photographers to retain more detail across a scene.

Apple says the system can adjust automatically, but experienced users will also be able to take manual control through the Camera app. New Pro controls include settings for aperture, shutter speed, white balance and histogram monitoring.

For most people, that technical change should translate into a simple benefit: better photographs in challenging situations without having to carry a dedicated camera. For professional creators, however, it opens the door to more deliberate image-making directly from a phone.

The rear camera system also includes a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera and a 48MP Fusion Telephoto camera, with up to 8x optical-quality zoom. Photographic Styles have been upgraded as well, allowing users to customise elements such as texture and grain alongside colour and tone.

Apple is giving video creators more control

The iPhone’s reputation among mobile filmmakers remains an important part of Apple’s Pro strategy. The new models support tools including ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, genlock and 4K Dolby Vision recording at up to 120fps.

Users can also apply Cinematic mode effects after recording regular video. An improved Audio Mix feature is designed to separate voices or music from distracting background noise, while Dual Capture can record through the front and rear cameras simultaneously.

These additions suggest Apple is no longer treating the iPhone camera merely as a convenient everyday shooter. The company is increasingly positioning it as a compact production tool for filmmakers, journalists, musicians and online creators.

A20 Pro promises power without losing its cool

At the centre of both phones is the new A20 Pro chip, which Apple describes as its most powerful and efficient iPhone processor so far.

It works alongside a next-generation vapour chamber with three times the surface area of the previous cooling solution. According to Apple, the combination provides up to 40 per cent better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro, which could make a noticeable difference during gaming, long video shoots and demanding AI tasks.

The chip also introduces a Dual 16-core Neural Engine and higher memory bandwidth for faster on-device intelligence. This additional processing capacity will be especially important as Apple expands AI features across photography, writing, communication and system-wide assistance.

Siri AI becomes a more personal assistant

With Siri AI, Apple is attempting to move its digital assistant beyond basic commands and reminders. The upgraded assistant can use personal context to provide more relevant responses and help users complete tasks across compatible apps.

Apple says privacy and security remain at the core of the experience. Many requests are processed directly on the device, reducing the amount of personal information that needs to leave the phone.

This deeper integration could become one of the most significant changes in everyday use, although its real value will depend on how reliably Siri AI understands requests and performs multi-step tasks. Apple says the feature is beginning its rollout in English.

iPhone 18 Pro Max sets a new battery benchmark

Battery life receives another major upgrade, particularly on the larger model. Apple claims the iPhone 18 Pro Max can deliver up to 45 hours of video playback and as much as 30 hours of mixed use on one charge.

Faster wired charging can take the battery to around 50 per cent in approximately 15 minutes when a compatible power adapter is used.

The improvement comes from a combination of a larger battery, the efficiency of A20 Pro and changes to the phone’s internal design. For buyers who regularly travel, record videos or play graphics-intensive games, the extra endurance may be just as important as the new camera.

Smaller Dynamic Island, four new finishes

Apple has redesigned the Dynamic Island to occupy less display space while presenting more useful information. It can show as many as three Live Activities simultaneously, including navigation directions, music controls and live sports updates.

The iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses a 6.9-inch panel. Both feature Super Retina XDR technology and ProMotion refresh rates of up to 120Hz.

The phones are built around an aluminium unibody and are available in black, silver, glacier and a new burgundy finish. Ceramic Shield protection is included on the front and back.

Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice-president of Worldwide Marketing, described the devices as the “best Pro iPhone we’ve ever made,” highlighting the company’s focus on camera, performance, battery life and intelligence.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will begin on Saturday, September 12, with general availability starting Friday, September 18.

With variable aperture offering meaningful photographic flexibility and Siri AI becoming more deeply integrated into the operating system, Apple’s latest Pro phones appear focused on something beyond routine annual upgrades: giving users more control over what the iPhone can see, understand and create.

In a development that has left parts of the fintech community unsettled, PayPal has confirmed a data breach tied to its Working Capital system—one that went unnoticed for nearly six months.

Beginning July 1, 2025, a threat actor reportedly gained unauthorized access to internal systems related to the PayPal Working Capital (PPWC) loan application process. According to notification emails now landing in inboxes, the attacker’s access continued until December 12, 2025, when the company finally uncovered the intrusion.

The notification letter, first reported by cybersecurity outlets such as Bleeping Computer, states that the breach stemmed from an “error” associated with PPWC applications. Despite earlier statements that “PayPal’s systems were not compromised,” the company later clarified—somewhat contradictorily—that it had “terminated the unauthorized access to PayPal’s systems” after investigation.

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What Information Was Exposed?

Customers affected by the breach may have had the following sensitive data accessed:

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Business address
• Social Security number
• Date of birth

A spokesperson confirmed that around 100 customers sustained unauthorized transactions linked to the incident. Refunds have already been issued. While this number is relatively small compared to PayPal’s global user base, the nature of the data accessed raises long-term security concerns.

Passwords Reset, Monitoring Offered

In response, PayPal has reset passwords for impacted users, meaning some customers may now encounter login prompts requiring new credentials. Additionally, the company is offering two years of complimentary credit monitoring and identity restoration services through Equifax—a gesture some users may view as small comfort given the depth of exposed personal information.

Security Advice From PayPal—Relevant to Everyone

The breach notification included a list of recommendations that all online users, not just the affected 100, would be wise to revisit:

• Use unique usernames and passwords for every platform.
• Change your password immediately if you detect unusual activity.
• Avoid clicking links in emails, even if they appear legitimate—visit the website directly instead.
• Be cautious with messages demanding urgent action, especially those pushing you to verify information instantly.
• Never share your PayPal username, password, or one-time codes over calls, texts, or emails.

Security analysts also stress the importance of enabling passkeys, where available, offering stronger protection against credential-based attacks.

A Wake-Up Call for Digital Payments

Although the breach affected a relatively small number of users, it underscores the increasingly urgent reality of cyber threats facing major financial platforms. Digital payment ecosystems depend heavily on trust—and incidents like this remind everyone how fragile that trust can be when internal vulnerabilities linger for months undetected.

PayPal advises all customers to remain vigilant, review recent account activity, and ensure security settings—including two-factor authentication or passkeys—are fully enabled.

ServiceNow has agreed to acquire cybersecurity startup Armis for $7.75 billion, marking the largest acquisition in ServiceNow’s history as it accelerates its expansion into security and artificial intelligence.

The Santa Clara, California–based company will pay all cash for the San Francisco–based firm, according to a statement released Tuesday, confirming an earlier report by Bloomberg News. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Market reaction and deal financing

ServiceNow shares slipped about 1.3% in early premarket trading in New York following the announcement. The stock had closed up roughly 0.9% on Monday, valuing the company at approximately $163 billion.

ServiceNow said it plans to fund the acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and debt, underscoring its confidence in Armis’ long-term growth and strategic value.

What Armis brings to ServiceNow

Founded by veterans of Israeli military cyber intelligence, Armis specializes in identifying, monitoring and securing connected devices across complex digital environments. Its platform is widely used in sectors including healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and defense, where visibility into unmanaged or vulnerable devices is critical.

Earlier this month, Armis CEO Yevgeny Dibrov said the company had reached $300 million in annual recurring revenue, up from $200 million a year earlier. Despite the rapid growth, Armis had been planning a public listing in 2026, a goal now superseded by the ServiceNow deal.

ServiceNow’s broader AI and security push

ServiceNow has been steadily transforming itself into a dominant enterprise workflow and automation platform. In March, the company agreed to acquire AI startup Moveworks for $2.85 billion, a move aimed at building autonomous AI tools capable of completing workplace tasks without human intervention.

“ServiceNow is building the security platform of tomorrow,” said Amit Zavery, the company’s president, chief operating officer, and chief product officer.

“Together with Armis, we will deliver an industry-defining cybersecurity shield that provides real-time, end-to-end proactive protection across all technology estates,” Zavery said.

Cybersecurity dealmaking accelerates

The Armis acquisition comes amid a surge in large cybersecurity transactions, driven by growing enterprise demand and the rising use of AI to detect and counter hacking threats.

In recent months:

• Alphabet agreed to buy cloud security firm Wiz for $32 billion
• Palo Alto Networks struck a deal to acquire CyberArk for about $25 billion

Armis itself was acquired in 2020 by Insight Partners in a deal valued at $1.1 billion, alongside investors including CapitalG. Private equity firm Thoma Bravo had also explored a potential investment, with Armis executives previously saying they were evaluating multiple offers.

What’s next

Once completed, the acquisition is expected to significantly strengthen ServiceNow’s security portfolio, positioning the company as a key player in AI-powered enterprise cybersecurity at a time when digital infrastructure risks are multiplying.