Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro series, featuring its newly developed 'A20 Pro' chip manufactured using a 2nm (nanometer, one-billionth of a meter) process and equipped with a variable aperture. The Apple Watch Series 12, Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 also received enhancements to their health monitoring and audio capabilities.
On the 10th (Korea time), Apple held a new product launch event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, USA, showcasing a wide range of new devices including its first foldable phone, 'iPhone Duo,' alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5. The standard iPhone 18 model was not unveiled at this event.
The screen sizes of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max remain unchanged at 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, respectively, from their predecessors. The most significant change is the A20 Pro chip. Produced using TSMC's latest 2nm process, it features a 6-core CPU (central processing unit), a 7-core GPU (graphics processing unit), and a 32-core Neural Engine. Apple explained that sustained performance has improved by up to 40% compared to the previous A19 Pro chip. The vapor chamber cooling system was also tripled in size compared to the previous model.
The camera system incorporates a 48-megapixel main Fusion camera with a variable aperture. Six aperture blades move to adjust the aperture size, controlling depth of field and light intake. According to Apple, this improves low-light shooting quality and allows for sharper images of people in the back row during group photos. A 'Pro Control' feature was also added, enabling direct adjustment of the aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and other settings.
Domestic starting prices are 1.99 million won for the iPhone 18 Pro 256GB model and 2.19 million won for the Pro Max 256GB model. The 512GB versions start at 2.29 million won and 2.49 million won, respectively, while the 1TB models are priced at 2.89 million won and 3.09 million won. The newly added 2TB models are priced at 3.79 million won and 3.99 million won, respectively. Available colors include Black, Silver, Glacier, and Burgundy. Pre-orders begin in Korea on the 12th at 9 p.m., with official release scheduled for the 18th.
The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are equipped with the S11 chip and new health sensors. Improvements have been made to heart rate monitoring, and a 'Readiness' feature has been added that analyzes activity levels, biometric data, and sleep to provide a daily score reflecting physical condition. The devices will also introduce a 'Health Age' function that compares actual age and health status by synthesizing Apple Watch measurements with blood test indicators.
The Apple Watch now includes AI-powered audio features. 'Sound Recognition' detects alarms, doorbells, baby cries, and other sounds, while 'Live Rewind' displays text of what was heard in the previous 15 seconds. 'Siri Recap' summarizes conversation content by organizing titles and key points; this feature will begin beta testing in English later this year.
The new wireless earphones, 'AirPods 5,' feature enhanced ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) performance. Apple stated that the AirPods 5 reduce external noise by up to 50% more than the AirPods 4 with ANC. They also support 'Adaptive Audio,' which automatically adjusts noise cancellation and ambient sound levels based on the surrounding environment, a function to lower volume during conversations, and real-time translation powered by Apple Intelligence.
in TECH
