Burgundy, glass and silicon: the season's flagship phones
Apple's new Pro iPhones arrive in a wine-dark finish; Google's Pixel 11 Pro bets on on-device AI. The facts that matter, checked against the makers.
A phone is the object we touch most, which is why its finish matters as much as its chip. This autumn, the most talked-about colour in technology is one HIGHER readers will recognise: burgundy.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on 9 September 2026, with availability from 18 September. They run on the A20 Pro chip and come in black, silver, glacier and burgundy.
According to Apple’s technical specifications, the Pro has a 6.3-inch display and the Pro Max a 6.9-inch display, both with ProMotion up to 120Hz. The rear system pairs a 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture with 48MP Ultra Wide and 4x Telephoto cameras. US pricing starts at $1,199 for the Pro and $1,299 for the Pro Max.
The most talked-about colour in technology this autumn is one our readers will recognise.
Google Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL
Google introduced the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL on 12 August 2026. The headline is the Tensor G6 chip, which Google says brings 50% more TPU compute than its predecessor for on-device AI. Google lists a display of up to 3,600 nits, sizes of 6.3 inches (Pro) and 6.8 inches (Pro XL), IP68 protection and Pro Zoom up to 120x. Prices start at $1,099 for the Pro and $1,299 for the Pro XL.
How we chose
We only list specifications published by the manufacturers themselves and checked on the date shown above. Samsung’s 2026 flagships will be added once we have verified their specifications directly on Samsung’s pages.
