What does the iPhone 18 Pro unboxing show?

An iPhone 18 Pro unboxing published on 18 September 2026 shows a burgundy 256GB unit in the retail box, a USB-C to USB-C cable, no SIM tool, and a smaller Dynamic Island. The video also walks through first-time setup, including eSIM activation and the new keyboard layout screen. This article separates what the footage shows from what Apple has published about the device.

What the iPhone 18 Pro unboxing actually shows

The iPhone 18 Pro unboxing shows a burgundy 256GB handset, model A3713, in Apple's retail packaging with a USB-C to USB-C cable and no SIM eject tool. The host opens the box, fits the burgundy Tech Woven case, and completes first-time setup on camera, including Face ID and eSIM configuration. The video runs about 13 minutes.

Box contents and the eSIM-only change

The box contains the iPhone 18 Pro, a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, and printed safety and handling instructions. There is no SIM eject tool, and the printed insert states that the phone requires eSIM. Apple's support documentation lists the Qi2 magnetic wireless charging specification, and the official Apple support page on eSIM explains how carriers activate a plan without a physical card.

The host does not complete carrier activation on camera. He selects the option to set up eSIM later and continues to the home screen, so the video does not verify whether a specific regional carrier supports the transfer flow shown in the setup wizard.

That matters because eSIM support depends on the carrier, not only on the handset. Apple's documentation notes that activation methods vary by carrier and region, which is why the setup screen offers both a nearby-iPhone transfer and a QR code path.

Design, finish and the smaller Dynamic Island

The burgundy finish arrives with a color-matched aluminum frame, a glass back, and the Apple logo centered above the MagSafe ring. The host describes the display cutout as noticeably smaller than earlier models, and compares it with the notch on the iPhone X. Apple markets the cutout as the Dynamic Island, and the official iPhone page is where the current specification list lives.

The camera button on the right edge is a physical control that opens the camera app when pressed. It is part of the iPhone 16 family's camera control, which Apple documents as a capacitive surface with a light touch to preview and a full press to shoot. The host says he mostly uses it to launch the camera.

The action button sits above the volume keys on the left edge and can be assigned to the flashlight, voice memo, translate, magnifier or a shortcut. The video shows the assignment screen during setup and the host picks the flashlight.

The rear camera cluster holds a telephoto, an ultrawide and a wide lens, with the flash, microphone and lidar arranged alongside. The article does not quote resolution or aperture figures, because the footage does not display them and current Apple specifications should be checked at the source.

Common questions about the iPhone 18 Pro

• Is the iPhone 18 Pro eSIM only? The retail box insert and the setup wizard both indicate eSIM-only activation with no SIM tray or eject tool. Check your carrier's eSIM support before ordering, since activation methods vary by region.

• Does the box include a charger? No. The box contains a USB-C to USB-C cable and documentation, matching Apple's recent practice of shipping without a power adapter.

• How much does the Apple Tech Woven Case cost? The host reads $79 Canadian before tax from the packaging. Apple's regional pricing can differ, so confirm on the current store page for your country.

• Is the Dynamic Island smaller on the iPhone 18 Pro? The host describes it as noticeably smaller and praises the change during the Face ID test. Treat that as a first-hand impression until Apple publishes the exact cutout dimensions.

• Does the iPhone 18 Pro support Face ID with a mask? The setup wizard offers that option. The host chose the standard face enrollment, then demonstrated an unlock immediately after setup.

• Can you set up an iPhone 18 Pro without an Apple Account? Setup permits it, but the host points out that most features require an account, and the wizard offers to create one later in Settings.

• What accessories fit the iPhone 18 Pro? The Tech Woven Case shown in the video is MagSafe and camera-control compatible, and Apple's packaging states support for crossbody straps and wristbands.

The 45-minute first setup: what is new

First-time setup on the iPhone 18 Pro now offers a keyboard-layout selection before the home screen, alongside the usual language, Wi-Fi, Face ID and passcode steps. The wizard also asks for an age range, offers to transfer data from Android, iCloud or another iPhone, and presents the Siri voice selection. The host skips the software update and defers eSIM activation.

Most of the flow will look familiar to anyone who has set up an iPhone in the past few years. Three items stood out in the footage.

1. Keyboard layout chosen up front. The wizard asks which keyboard layout you want during setup, so you do not have to change it later in Settings.

2. Age range at enrollment. Setup now asks whether the primary user is a child 12 or younger, a teen 13 to 18, or an adult 19 or older.

3. Action button customization built in. The action button assignment screen appears during setup rather than only in Settings, with silent mode, focus, camera, visual intelligence, flashlight, voice memo, recognize music, translate, magnifier, shortcut, accessibility and no-action options.

The host also notes that the 'Liquid Glass' search bar on the home screen changes transparency when you tilt the phone. That is a visual observation from the footage, not a specification claim.

Tech Woven Case: price, fit and button cutouts

The Apple Tech Woven Case in burgundy fits the iPhone 18 Pro with color-matched fabric, a camera-button cover instead of a cutout, and a raised lip around the display. The host reads the price on the box as $79 before tax, which is Canadian dollars.

That packaging also lists MagSafe and camera-control compatibility, plus support for crossbody straps and wristbands. The case has metal-feeling buttons, a USB-C port cutout, and speaker and microphone holes along the bottom edge.

The host installs the case and confirms that the sleep/wake button, camera button, action button and volume keys all line up. He does not test drop protection, water resistance, or how the woven fabric wears over months. If you want the current price in your region, check the Apple case product page directly.

Country pricing is the practical issue here. A price read from a Canadian box does not translate into US, UK or EU pricing, and Apple adjusts accessory pricing by region and by tax treatment.

What the video does not prove about the iPhone 18 Pro

The video demonstrates the retail experience, not the hardware's performance. It measures no battery life, no camera output, no thermal behavior, no display brightness, and no connectivity speed. It also skips the software update that the iPhone prompted for during setup, so nothing about the installed firmware version can be concluded from the footage.

Treat the smaller Dynamic Island and the burgundy finish as observations from a single unit on the day of recording. Specifications such as chip name, storage tiers, camera sensor sizes, water resistance rating and wireless charging wattage should be checked against the Apple iPhone specification page before any purchase decision.

The host mentions that he does not use the camera button often beyond launching the camera. That is one user's habit across a short session, not a finding about whether the control is useful in daily use.

Who should care and what to check first

Buy the iPhone 18 Pro for the camera system, the burgundy finish and the smaller Dynamic Island, but verify three things before ordering. First, confirm that your carrier supports eSIM activation, including the transfer-from-nearby-iPhone and QR-code paths. Second, check the local price of the phone and the Tech Woven Case in your own currency. Third, decide whether you want the camera button at all, since the setup screen treats it as a separate control from the action button.

If you rely on a physical SIM for travel or a secondary line, this is the point to check whether your carrier offers an eSIM transfer or issues a QR code. The video defers that step, so the answer has to come from your carrier, not from the unboxing.

For the setup itself, plan for the data-transfer choice. The wizard offers iCloud backup, another iPhone, a Mac or PC, Android, or no transfer at all. That decision shapes how long the first hour with the phone takes.

Frequently asked questions

• What is in the iPhone 18 Pro box? The box contains the phone, a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, and printed safety and handling instructions. There is no SIM eject tool and no power adapter.

• How do you activate an eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro? The setup wizard offers a transfer from a nearby iPhone or a QR code from your carrier. The host chose to set up eSIM later in Settings, so the video does not show a completed activation.

• How much is the Apple Tech Woven Case in Canada? The packaging shown in the video lists $79 before tax in Canadian dollars. Apple prices accessories separately by region, so treat that figure as Canada-specific.

• What can the action button do on the iPhone 18 Pro? Setup offers silent mode, focus, camera, visual intelligence, flashlight, voice memo, recognize music, translate, magnifier, shortcut, accessibility and no action.

• Does the iPhone 18 Pro take a physical SIM card? No, based on the box insert and the setup flow shown. The host reads the packaging aloud and confirms there is no tray or tool in the box.

• Is the Dynamic Island smaller than on previous iPhones? The host describes it as noticeably smaller and welcomes the change during the Face ID demonstration. Apple's published cutout dimensions should be checked for the exact figure.

• Can you transfer data from Android to the iPhone 18 Pro? Yes, the setup wizard lists Android alongside iCloud, another iPhone, and a Mac or PC as sources. The host does not complete a transfer on camera.

• What does the Liquid Glass search bar do? The host shows that the search element changes transparency as the phone tilts. That is a visual demonstration in this footage, not a documented feature specification.

• Where should I verify iPhone 18 Pro specifications? Use Apple's current iPhone comparison and specification pages, since regional model numbers and network bands differ. Retail footage from a single region does not cover the full lineup.

• Was the iPhone 18 Pro Max also shown? The description links a separate unboxing of the iPhone 18 Pro Max in black. This article covers only the burgundy iPhone 18 Pro. If you record your own hardware walkthroughs and want the explanation captured in writing, Skala blog turns a video transcript into a structured article.

Source video