iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5 and Apple Watch Series 12 are now in stores: what you can buy today and which AI features are still pending

iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5 and Apple Watch Series 12 went on sale on Friday, September 18, 2026. Apple has confirmed their retail launch in its stores and online worldwide. For buyers, the key distinction is not only between the three products, but also between what they can use immediately and the AI features announced as new additions that will arrive later or will not initially be available in the European Union.

iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 in the United States with 256GB of storage. AirPods 5 start at $129 in the US, while the version with a wireless charging case costs $149. Apple Watch Series 12 is on sale today, but its most talked-about features, Live Rewind and Siri Recap, are slated for beta release toward the end of 2026, in English, and will not initially be available in the EU.

That means today’s launch is primarily about hardware: a Pro iPhone with a more flexible main camera, AirPods with active noise cancellation in an open design, and a watch with new sensors and audio processing. It is not yet the full launch of the idea of an Apple Watch that “remembers” conversations.

What you can buy and what is still pending

Apple has not published an official price in Romanian lei for the iPhone 18 Pro or AirPods 5 in the materials reviewed. The US price cannot be converted directly into lei: VAT, exchange rates, retail costs and the configuration sold locally can significantly affect the final amount. For an indicative conversion, readers can follow the National Bank of Romania exchange rate and InfoBuz converter, without mistaking it for a Romanian retail price.

iPhone 18 Pro: seven changes that matter more than the new colour

iPhone 18 Pro does not change the direction of the Pro lineup, but Apple has concentrated upgrades in three areas that are noticeable in everyday use: photography and video, sustained performance, and connectivity. Compared with iPhone 17 Pro, which used A19 Pro and a three-camera 48MP Fusion system, the new model focuses on image control and Apple-designed networking components.

1. A20 Pro instead of A19 Pro. The new A20 Pro chip is the foundation for graphics processing, AI features and demanding tasks. For people who primarily use their phone for messaging, browsing and streaming, the jump will not radically change the experience. It becomes more relevant for video editing, gaming and long-term use.
2. The 48MP main camera has a variable aperture. This is the clearest photography change. The aperture controls how much light reaches the sensor and how much the subject can be separated from the background at the moment of capture. It does not replace a camera with interchangeable lenses, but it offers more control than a phone camera with a fixed aperture.
3. Pro controls in the Camera app. Apple is introducing a new set of controls for users who want more direct control over how they shoot. The value of this addition depends on how much the owner shoots manually; for snapshots, automation remains essential.
4. A smaller Dynamic Island. The change is physical and visible on screen. It does not necessarily increase usable display area dramatically, but it reduces the cutout at the top while retaining interactions for calls, timers, audio playback and navigation.
5. Apple-designed C2 cellular modem. Apple says the new modem brings AI-based improvements to cellular connection quality and reliability. The actual effect will depend on the carrier’s network, coverage and subscription; it should not be interpreted as a promise of identical speeds everywhere.
6. N1 chip for wireless connectivity. iPhone 18 Pro supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread through an Apple wireless chip. Wi-Fi 7 can matter on a compatible network, but it does not automatically deliver the maximum benefit if the router and internet subscription are older. For context, see the comparison of Wi-Fi 6, 6E and Wi-Fi 7, and when a new router is worth the upgrade.
7. New video tools. Apple is adding intelligent focus tracking, Dual Capture and improved low-light video recording. For creators, these may be more practical selling points than the performance increase alone, because they reduce the steps needed to produce usable footage directly from the phone.

Apple also mentions a next-generation vapour chamber for cooling and sustained performance. However, vapour-chamber cooling is not entirely new to the Pro family: iPhone 17 Pro already had such a solution. The announced difference is one of generation and integration with A20 Pro, rather than the sudden arrival of active cooling.

For more information about Apple, see iPhone 17: A New Era for Apple Smartphones, which provides complementary details on this subject.

iPhone 18 Pro is available with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB of storage, and in black, silver, glacier and burgundy red. If the choice is between iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, size, battery life and price may matter more than the list of AI features; the basic comparison is explained in the analysis of the differences between iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

AirPods 5: the upgrade is about ANC, not just Siri

AirPods 5 retain the open design, without silicone ear tips, but add active noise cancellation. Apple says its new system can reduce up to 50% more outside noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, in its own testing. This is a manufacturer comparison, not an independent measurement, and real-world results vary depending on the noise, the fit of the earbuds and ear shape.

Beyond ANC, Apple promises a new acoustic architecture, next-generation Adaptive EQ, a more natural Transparency mode and better resistance to dust, sweat and water. The version with the wireless case adds swipe volume control on the stem and promises up to five hours of listening time with ANC enabled, or up to 22 hours with the case.

Integration with Siri AI and Apple Intelligence is appealing on paper: users can request contextual information or use live translation. But these features depend on a compatible iPhone, updated software, language and region. For a buyer in Romania, the most dependable reason to upgrade remains the combination of ANC in an open design and better controls, rather than an AI feature that may be temporarily unavailable.

Apple Watch “remembers” conversations, but not today and not in Romania

Live Rewind and Siri Recap are the most unusual features in the new Apple Watch generation. The first displays, when the Digital Crown is double-pressed, a text snippet from the previous 15 seconds of speech. The second can generate high-level notes, with a title, summary and key ideas, for conversations that the user has chosen to recap.

The precise wording matters: the watch does not retain an audio recording that can be accessed later, and Siri Recap is not intended as a full transcription. Apple says raw audio is processed in a hardware-isolated area called Secure Exclave, then deleted. For summaries, a condensed version of the content reaches Private Cloud Compute, Apple’s infrastructure for certain AI tasks; saved summaries and saved Live Rewind snippets sync end-to-end encrypted through iCloud.

However, there are three practical limitations that should not be overlooked:

• The features are not ready at launch. Apple says they are coming in beta toward the end of 2026.
• They will not initially be available in the EU. This limitation is directly relevant to users in Romania, even though Apple Watch Series 12 can be purchased.
• They can make mistakes. Apple’s documentation warns that AI-generated snippets and summaries may be incomplete or inaccurate. Important details—a sum of money, a date, a medical instruction or a work decision—should be confirmed with the person involved, not automatically taken from a summary.

What control the user has and what people around them see

Live Rewind must be deliberately enabled with a double press of the Digital Crown. When used, the watch emits an audible signal even when it is on silent and displays a full-screen animation along with the microphone indicator. Apple says this design is intended to alert people nearby.

Siri Recap is optional. Users can choose the times and places where the feature is active—for example, only at the office—or turn it off from Control Center. If summaries are not saved or exported, Apple says they are automatically deleted after seven days. The company also says the feature is designed to exclude certain sensitive data, such as financial information or government identifiers, while also noting that automatic filtering cannot guarantee the removal of all sensitive information.

The practical conclusion is simple: the audible signal, the absence of a raw recording and activation controls reduce the risk compared with a permanently operating voice recorder, but they do not eliminate the need for common sense. In a meeting, at a doctor’s office, at school or in a private conversation, users must take account of the rules of the setting and the consent of the people involved. A technology that creates summaries does not automatically become acceptable simply because it does not retain audio.

Are they worth buying now?

iPhone 18 Pro has the clearest case for an upgrade for people who take a lot of photos or video with their phone, use sustained performance or want updated wireless connectivity. For owners of a recent Pro iPhone, the variable aperture and video tools are the differentiators worth assessing, not just the name of the new chip.

AirPods 5 are easier to justify for people who prefer the comfort of an open design but have so far wanted active noise cancellation. The upgrade is less compelling if AirPods 4 with ANC still provide the necessary comfort and isolation.

Apple Watch Series 12 should not be bought in Romania specifically for Live Rewind or Siri Recap. They are not launch features for the EU market. The watch should be judged on what it can do now: sensors, health and fitness features, Siri available under Apple’s conditions, and already released audio features. This time, the difference between the promise and availability matters more than the stage presentation.

On iPhone, too, the availability of Apple Intelligence features depends on language, region and a compatible model. For the local context, it is also worth checking which iOS 27 features are limited or missing on iPhone in Romania before making a purchase decision.

Frequently asked questions

How much does iPhone 18 Pro cost?

Apple lists a starting price of $1,199 in the US for the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro. The price in Romania may differ and should be checked with authorised retailers.

Are Live Rewind and Siri Recap available in Romania at the launch of Apple Watch Series 12?

No. Apple says these features will arrive in beta toward the end of 2026, initially in English, and will not initially be available in the European Union.

Does Apple Watch permanently record conversations for Siri Recap?

According to Apple, Audio Intelligence does not create or retain raw audio recordings. Siri Recap generates summaries, while Live Rewind displays a text snippet from the previous 15 seconds only after the feature has been deliberately enabled.

What do AirPods 5 add over AirPods 4 with ANC?

Apple promises more effective active noise cancellation in an open design, a new acoustic architecture, next-generation Adaptive EQ and, for the version with the wireless case, swipe volume control on the stem.