NEW DELHI: Apple has officially revealed the prices of its new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in India. The premium smartphones bring major camera, performance and battery upgrades, but their higher starting prices could force many buyers to think carefully before upgrading.

There is another surprise hidden in Apple’s latest announcement: the company has not launched a standard iPhone 18 alongside the two Pro models. As a result, there is currently no official iPhone 18 price or confirmed availability date.

Instead, Apple’s new smartphone lineup is led by the iPhone 18 Pro series and the company’s first foldable handset, the iPhone Duo.

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iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max prices

The iPhone 18 Pro begins at 1,64,900 for the 256GB variant. Buyers choosing the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max will need to spend at least 1,79,900.

Here is the complete pricing structure announced by Apple:

In the United States, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max carries a starting price of $1,299. Both base configurations now include 256GB of storage.

What happened to the standard iPhone 18?

Apple’s decision not to introduce the regular iPhone 18 is likely to raise questions among buyers who want a new-generation iPhone without paying Pro-level prices.

The company has not announced the standard model’s price, specifications or release date. Apple’s current Indian lineup continues to include the iPhone 17, which now starts at 99,900, along with the iPhone 17e and iPhone Air.

Reports have suggested that Apple could be moving towards a split-launch strategy, with the standard iPhone 18 arriving separately from the premium models. Until Apple makes an official announcement, however, its price and launch timeline should be treated as unconfirmed.

For now, customers searching for an “iPhone 18 price in India” should note that only the Pro and Pro Max models have been launched under the iPhone 18 branding.

Why are the Pro models so expensive?

The new prices reflect Apple’s increasingly premium approach to its Pro lineup. Both phones are powered by the A20 Pro chip and feature a redesigned cooling system for improved performance during demanding tasks.

The biggest hardware upgrade is a 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture. The lens can adjust the amount of light entering the camera, helping users capture brighter low-light photographs and control depth of field more naturally.

Apple has also added three 48MP rear cameras, manual Pro camera controls and up to 8x optical-quality zoom. The system is aimed at both everyday users and professional creators who shoot photographs and videos on their phones.

The iPhone 18 Pro features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the Pro Max has a larger 6.9-inch panel. Both support ProMotion technology, an Always-On display and a redesigned Dynamic Island.

Battery life could be the Pro Max’s strongest advantage

The iPhone 18 Pro Max offers Apple’s longest battery life on an iPhone. The Indian version is rated for up to 43 hours of video playback, while the standard Pro model offers a smaller display and battery.

Faster wired charging is included as well. Apple says the phones can reach approximately 50 per cent charge in around 15 minutes when used with a compatible power adapter.

The combination of a larger battery, improved thermal management and the efficiency of the A20 Pro chip could make the Pro Max particularly attractive to gamers, travellers and content creators.

Siri AI becomes part of the package

Both phones run iOS 27 and support Apple Intelligence and Siri AI. Apple’s upgraded assistant is designed to understand personal context, recognise information displayed on the screen and perform actions across supported applications.

Many AI tasks can be processed directly on the device, allowing Apple to continue positioning privacy as a major difference between its intelligence features and competing cloud-based services.

Pre-order and sale dates in India

Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will begin in India at 5:30 pm IST on September 12. Both models will become available through Apple’s online store, physical stores and authorised retailers from September 18.

The phones are offered in four finishes: black, silver, glacier and burgundy.

Apple is also advertising up to six months of no-cost EMI and instant cashback of up to ₹7,000 on selected models when customers use eligible cards. The final benefit will depend on the model, payment method and offer conditions.

For buyers, the choice is unusually clear this year: pay at least ₹1.65 lakh for the latest Pro experience, consider the existing iPhone 17, or wait to discover what Apple has planned for the still-missing standard iPhone 18.

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.