I used the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12 and AirPods 5 for a month and here’s my verdict

Tech contributer Henry tested the latest Apple launches for a month – to see if they are worth your money, or not. (Picture: Metro/Apple/Currys/Getty) Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more If you already have an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, the bottom line is that the latest top models of each are a little bit better, but not world-beatingly different from what’s already in your hand, on your wrist or in your ears. That said, the latest iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12 and AirPods 5 I’ve been testing for a month since their September release are among the most polished consumer tech products you can buy in 2026. That feeling is only amplified when they’re all used together. Long time Apple users will feel a warm, cuddly sense of déjà vu. APPLE iPhone 18 Pro The APPLE iPhone 18 Pro is Apple's latest premium smartphone, featuring a powerful A20 Pro chip, an advanced triple-camera system with a new variable aperture lens, pro-level photography controls, and a sleek titanium design. It's designed for photography enthusiasts, power users and those already invested in the Apple ecosystem. Buy Now from £1,199 The iPhone 18 Pro (from £1,199) is not a reinvention like the new folding iPhone Duo. Instead, it’s practically the same as 2025’s iPhone 17 Pro but with new colours, including a fetching dark burgundy, a faster A20 Pro chipset and a main camera lens with a variable aperture. The latter is a first for an iPhone, with moving parts that adjust the aperture for shots, just like a DSLR camera. I found the noticeable effects minimal, but the inclusion of ‘pro’ controls in the camera app for the first time is a real boon for mobile photographers who want to quickly change white balance, shutter speed and other settings. Android phones have had these options for a while, so Apple is a little late to the game. You also get a smart update to ‘styles’, which offers mood-changing photo filter presets, with the ability to make shots look like film with artificial grain. It’s fun to play with, and best of all you can change or remove effects in the Photos app to tweak your shots to perfection. APPLE iPhone 18 Pro Max The APPLE iPhone 18 Pro Max is Apple's largest and most advanced smartphone, featuring a bigger display, longer battery life, the powerful A20 Pro chip and an upgraded triple-camera system with a variable aperture main lens. It's ideal for those who love a large screen for photography, gaming, video streaming and productivity, while offering all the premium features of the iPhone 18 Pro in a larger format. Buy Now from £2,499 Photo quality and flexibility of the triple lens system is still inferior to phones such as the Xiaomi 17 Ultra with its 1-inch main sensor, but there’s no doubt the 18 Pro has very capable mobile cameras – and despite all the extra features, remains an excellent point-and-shoot. It has a neutral, life-like feel and is the most reliable iPhone I’ve ever used to capture images. Siri has had some upgrades, but it’s still not a feature I use all that much. Most handy for me is now being able to take a screenshot of an invitation, or even a verbal invite to an event on WhatsApp, and then tapping the prompt to ‘Add to Calendar’, which quickly and accurately does so. Apple Reference Image provides users with an unalterable reference photo, visually confirming what the sensor saw at the moment of capture. (Picture: Metro/Apple) Battery life is solid but probably won’t stretch to two days, unlike premium Android rivals, though performance is exemplary. While not an essential buy for anyone with an iPhone 15 or earlier, those coming from an older phone will see a welcome upgrade across the board. Fans of larger phones can opt for the 18 Pro Max (from £1,299) for bigger screen and more battery life. That model is too large for my tastes, though. APPLE Watch Series 12 The APPLE Watch Series 12 is Apple's latest flagship smartwatch, designed to help you stay connected, active and informed throughout the day. It features enhanced health and fitness tracking, including more frequent heart-rate monitoring, a new Readiness Score to help measure recovery, faster charging and up to 24 hours of battery life. It also runs the latest watchOS software, with smart features such as gesture controls and improved music recognition, making it one of Apple's most advanced wearables yet. Buy Now from £369 I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how much I’ve enjoyed the Apple Watch Series 12. Though I’ve tested plenty of its predecessors, this latest effort is supremely polished – much like the iPhone 18 Pro, it’s the culmination of several years of design and software tweaks. The new dark bronze colour option I’ve been using has also grown on me considering it’s not a hue I would have chosen. It’s like wearing an electronic After Eight. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Apple has made this Watch better with improved sensors that can record your heart rate continuously (every five seconds as opposed to five minutes), making readings far more comprehensive and in line with popular wrist-based competitors such as the Whoop band and Oura Ring. That’s also why Apple has added a ‘readiness’ score, mirroring what’s on offer elsewhere. Apple Watch Series 12 is the most comprehensive wearable across health, fitness, and safety, with the new Health Sensing System and S11 chip powering an enhanced suite of features. (Picture: Metro/Apple) Swipe up from your watch face and watchOS 27 brings thoughtful additions such as an always-listening widget that tells you what music is playing around you automatically. A tap can then save it to your Apple Music account – not Spotify or any other music service. If you buy into Apple’s devices, you only get the best experience if you go all in on its software too, which might not be to everybody’s taste. With a six month old at home and often in my arms, I love how I can scroll through the stack of widgets (timers, weather, music) with a double pinch of my thumb and forefinger when I don’t have a second hand free. With 24 hours of battery life you can be woken with the vibrating silent alarm to not disturb slumbering offspring or partner. Charging is also faster than ever. Apple Watch Series 12 delivers the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable, higher-frequency heart rate and heart rate variability sensing, and a readiness score. (Picture: Metro/Apple) I haven’t been able to test the Series 12’s two most controversial features as they’re coming in an update later this year. Live Rewind can show, in text, the last 15 seconds of conversation, possible as the Watch will use its mic to buffer what’s being said. Apple says this isn’t saved anywhere permanently, but the implication is your Apple Watch is listening and noting down everything said around you, without it being obvious you are recording. The other feature is called Siri Recap, which according to Apple ‘can create high-level summaries of conversations that users can review later’. This appears to offer detailed breakdowns of meetings and appointments, but of course could potentially be used for more covert intentions. Both smarts are opt-in, but it feels Apple is flirting with the kind of public privacy pushback Meta is having with its smart glasses, which have subtle cameras and mics that can be used to record in public. APPLE AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case The APPLE AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case are Apple's latest open-ear wireless earbuds, combining a comfortable fit with features typically found in more premium models. They offer active noise cancellation, improved call quality, touch controls for adjusting volume directly from the stem, and seamless integration with Apple devices. Buy Now from £139 The final prong of Apple’s three new devices is the AirPods 5. There are two versions, with a £119 model to start, but anyone interested should spend £20 and get the clunkily-named AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. Not only do you get that upgrade, you can also swipe up or down on the stems to change volume. Despite their fixed plastic shape that sits in the ear opening, these AirPods have noise cancellation. As I tested on a trip to New Zealand, this is no good for blocking out noise on a plane, but it is surprisingly effective in bustling cafes, walking down city streets, or in an office setting. The comfort makes them a good bud to pop in for phone calls, with five hours on a full charge, three less than AirPods Pro 3 (the case adds more, obviously). AirPods 5 offer the most affordable way to experience some of the most powerful AirPods features, along with greater durability compared to previous models. (Picture: Metro/Apple) Though I’m a bit of an audio snob at times, I prefer the moulded AirPods design to the in-ear AirPods Pro. The latter have silicone tips for a better noise cancelling seal, but irritate my ears after a couple of hours. The cheaper, open-style AirPods 5 have almost all the Pro’s features in a more comfortable fit. That’s a win in my book. If you’re overdue for an iPhone, Apple Watch or AirPods upgrade, any of these latest offerings will serve you very well for several years to come. It’s just not worth shelling out for these pricey gadgets if the ones you have still work well, as this year is not one of radical overhaul – Apple has saved all that juice for the iPhone Duo. Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below Arrow MORE: Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty and CASETiFY launch genius phone case collection Arrow MORE: Wet weather is ruining my floors but this Hoover vacuum is saving the day Arrow MORE: UKLash has launched a Lash Lift Gel and it’s made for ‘no makeup makeup’ days Puzzles Newsletter Get your favourite puzzles when they are ready to play on the website sent directly to you every day and track your daily streak!