My first week using the iPhone 18 Pro taught me that Pro Max is no longer mandatory

4.5 / 5 Very good The A20 Pro and improved cooling chamber are very reliable. Long battery life, even on the smaller iPhone 18 Pro. Variable aperture and pro controls allow for more creative shots. Both models are heavier and bulkier, especially the Pro Max. $100 price increases from last year. Darker colors make fingerprints and scratches very apparent. My past week of testing the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max has been exhilarating, not because of the new variable aperture camera that transforms glaring lights into star bursts, or the Burgundy color that’s a mature shift in tonality compared to last year’s Cosmic Orange, but because of all the benefits that now four-year-old (or older) iPhone users are about to reap if they’re planning to upgrade. Battery life across both models is at an all-time high, the thermal management that keeps frame rates steady during intense gaming…