[Edaily Reporter Han Kwangbeom ] Pre-orders for Apple’s next-generation premium smartphones, the “iPhone 18 Pro” and “iPhone 18 Pro Max,” will begin in South Korea on the 12th. South Korea is included in the first wave of global launch countries, alongside the U.S. and others, and will begin pre-orders simultaneously. Pre-orders via Apple’s official website will be available starting at 9:00 p.m. that day, and the official launch date is the 18th.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices range from 1.99 million won for the 256GB model to 3.79 million won for the 2TB model of the iPhone 18 Pro, and from 2.19 million won for the 256GB model to 3.99 million won for the 2TB model of the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
◇Variable Aperture Camera and Personalized 'Siri AI'
The iPhone 18 Pro prioritizes a significantly upgraded camera system. It features a 48-megapixel Fusion main camera composed of six laser-cut blades thinner than a human hair and is the first in the series to feature a “variable aperture.” Unlike traditional fixed apertures, it directly adjusts the lens aperture to optimize light intake and depth of field according to lighting conditions and the photographer’s intent. In dark night scenes, the aperture opens to capture as much light as possible, while portrait shots achieve natural background blur (bokeh). Conversely, when shooting landscapes or group photos, the aperture closes to ensure sharp focus across the entire frame.
A new “Pro Control” feature has been added, allowing users to manually set four aperture values, as well as shutter speed, white balance, and histogram. On the technical front, in addition to support for SynthID—which identifies AI-generated and edited images—the “Apple Reference Image” feature has also been introduced. This feature encrypts data at the pixel level on the sensor to verify the authenticity of the original image. Photo editing tools include “Clean Up” with high-quality inpainting, “Extend” for expanding images, and a “Spatial Reconstruction” tool for changing the viewpoint after a shot is taken.
In terms of AI features, the device is equipped with “Siri AI,” based on the Apple Intelligence Architecture. Personalized Siri AI understands personal context across Messages, Mail, and Calendar on the device to find accurate answers even to ambiguous user questions. It can also recognize objects in front of the user through Siri Mode in the Camera app or perform actions by integrating with over 300,000 apps. Siri AI launched in English beta on the 14th and will sequentially expand support to Korean, French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish starting next month. System-wide, a variety of new features have been added, including Safari’s web page price change and restock notifications, automation via Shortcuts that works with just a description, and the Phone app’s automatic display of relevant information.
◇Equipped with a 2-nanometer “A20 Pro” chip and a next-generation vapor chamber
At its core is the “A20 Pro” chip, based on the latest 2-nanometer (nm) architecture. It delivers twice the AI processing performance through a 6-core CPU with 50% more memory bandwidth than the A19 Pro, a 7-core GPU with 40% improved performance, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine (32 cores total) dedicated to on-device AI processing. The next-generation C2 cellular modem boosts upload speeds while reducing energy consumption by 15%. To manage heat, the device incorporates a next-generation vapor chamber with three times the surface area of the previous generation, along with custom packaging technology from the M-series chips, resulting in up to a 40% improvement in sustained performance.
Battery life has also been extended, with the iPhone 18 Pro supporting up to 36 hours of video playback and the iPhone 18 Pro Max supporting up to 45 hours. Under real-world conditions, a full charge provides up to 30 hours of use, and the device supports fast wired charging that brings the battery to 50% in about 15 minutes. In terms of design, the devices will be available in four colors: Black, Silver, Glacier, and Burgundy. The Dynamic Island has been downscaled to display up to three real-time statuses simultaneously. The included iOS 27 features improvements to the Liquid Glass visual design, enhanced parental controls, and “iPhone Handoff,” which allows two iPhones to share a single phone number.
The three major mobile carriers are also rolling out a variety of promotions to coincide with the start of pre-orders. SKTelecom(017670)is exclusively offering the “iPhone 18 Pro” 2TB model, which features high-capacity storage, through the T Direct Shop. Customers who pre-order or activate their devices will receive benefits through “Club iPhone 18 Pro,” an exclusive membership program for flagship models, including Mega MGC Coffee coupons, Kakao emoticon vouchers, and Outback Steakhouse coupons. Additionally, those who activate their devices by October 18 will receive a 2-month subscription to Google AI Plus and a 4-month subscription to TVING. Additionally, the company is running a limited-edition prize drawing event featuring 36-month interest-free installment plans with Hyundai Card, additional compensation for trade-in phones, and invitations to the Garmin Run event.
KTCorporation(030200)To reduce the burden of purchasing or upgrading a phone, the company is introducing the “365 Phone Care” program and the “Phone Change_i18” service, which guarantees up to 50% of the original retail price upon return after two years. Customers who sign up for the “Choice Double Device” plan and select the AirPods Pro 3 will receive the DEVICE for 0 won. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 20s brand “Y,” 2,000 Y-Dum customers will be selected via a raffle to receive a special merchandise package. In addition, the company is offering benefits totaling up to approximately 1.44 million won through a double discount program linked to partner credit cards, and guarantees same-day delivery on the launch date for customers who placed pre-orders during the first round at the KTCorporation Direct Shop.
LG Uplus(032640)is offering same-day delivery on the launch date and various prize drawings for customers who pre-order through its official online store, Uplus.com. It is providing group discounts and partner card discount programs for customers who activate their pre-ordered devices, along with an exclusive accessory coupon pack and a device protection plan for new iPhone users.
