iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max: All the biggest rumors so far

What are the biggest upgrades for iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max

• Pro models launching first in September 2026, base models delayed to spring 2027
• Smaller Dynamic Island likely, with some Face ID components under the display
• Possible variable aperture camera (Pro Max only)
• New A20 chip (2nm) for performance and efficiency gains
• Apple’s own C2 modem expected across the lineup
• Potential satellite internet support, not just emergency use

How is iPhone 18 Pro/Max different from iPhone 17 Pro/Max?

• Split release schedule (Pro first, base later)
• Smaller or modified Dynamic Island
• Possible under-display Face ID components
• New modem (shift away from Qualcomm)
• Camera experimentation (variable aperture on Pro Max)

When will the iPhone 18 Pro/Max launch?

There have been consistent reports for some time that there will be a major shift from Apple’s usual iPhone release schedule in 2026. In September 2026, Apple will reportedly only release the high-end models: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the new folding iPhone, and perhaps an updated iPhone Air.

That means the base model iPhone 18 will wait until spring 2027, when it will reportedly arrive alongside the iPhone 18e. This is a big departure for Apple, and it means that the new iPhones in September 2026 will all have price tags of $999 or more.

This staggered approach could allow Apple to focus more attention on its premium Pro and foldable handsets during the holiday season. 

What will the iPhone 18 Pro/Max look like?

The design of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max is said to resemble the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, but some changes are predicted.

One possible change, shared by a Weibo leaker in September 2025, is a “slightly transparent” ceramic shield section on the back of Pro models, though details are unclear.

New colorways, including a deep shade of red (possibly burgundy or purple-toned) and a coffee shade, are rumored (via Digital Chat Station). As with the iPhone 17 Pro, there will be no black option, according to Instant Digital.

Screen sizes are expected to remain at 6.3 and 6.9 inches. The Pro models will also retain the wider three-camera raised plateau.

Most likely: Design changes will be minimal, with the biggest visible differences limited to colors and subtle refinements.

What’s new with the iPhone 18 Pro/Max camera

Eugen Wegmann

Apple may introduce variable aperture technology to the 48MP main camera on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max (potentially only the Pro Max), allowing mechanical control over light intake and depth of field. This has long been a perk limited to high-end professional cameras.

If the rumor (from Digital Chat Station on Weibo) is true, iPhone users will be able to mechanically control how much light reaches the sensor for the first time, allowing more control over depth of field and sharpness. This could elevate portrait shots by improving the applied depth of field effect, as well as minimizing overexposure.

Improved telephoto apertures on the Pro models should also result in better low-light performance.

For some time (since January 2025) Samsung has been said to be working on a new three-layer stacked camera sensor called ‘PD-TR-Logic,’ and this could appear in the iPhone 18 series. This image sensor is expected to enhance the camera’s responsiveness, while also offering advantages such as reduced photo noise, improved dynamic range.

The front-facing camera may also get an upgrade beyond the rumored changes to the housing (as discussed elsewhere the selfie camera may be housed in a smaller hole-punch cut out, reducing the size of the Dynamic Island). The iPhone 17 generation features 18MP sensors for the selfie camera, but this may increase to 24MP in the next generation, according to leaker WhyLab on Weibo.

More megapixels would lead to improved video calls and better low-light performance. 

Most likely: Incremental improvements, with a new variable aperture feature on the Pro Max.

Will the iPhone 18 Pro/Max Dynamic Island or front camera change?

Britta O’Boyle

Apple hasn’t changed the Dynamic Island since the iPhone 14 Pro, but the iPhone 18 Pro may introduce some adjustments.

Some reports suggest Face ID components could move under the display, shrinking the Dynamic Island. 

A report in December 2025 from Weibo account “Smart Pikachu” claimed that Apple is testing an under-display “micro-transparent glass panel” for some Face ID sensors. This should enable a smaller Dynamic Island for iPhone 18 Pro. 

The ever-reliable Mark Gurman at Bloomberg also reported that Apple will “shrink” the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 models, so there’s strong evidence that some of the several sensors and emitters required for Face ID will be under the display or combined.

A spy shot published in March by noted leaker IceUniverse on X gives us a view of how much smaller the Dynamic Island could be.

IceUniverse/X

There have been conflicting claims that the position of the front-facing camera may also change: 

• In December 2025 The Information claimed Apple will put the Face ID sensors under the display, and move the front camera to the upper left corner in a punch-hole design. This would make the iPhone 18 Pro/ Max the first iPhones with a front camera in the corner.
• However, Prominent leaker account Instant Digital said on Weibo in January 2026 that front camera claim was based on a mistranslation, and only the infrared sensor moves under the display. Leakers ShrimpApplePro and Ross Young of DSCC corroborated Instant Digital’s claims.

Most likely: A smaller Dynamic Island with some components of Face ID under the glass. Smaller pill cut out for camera, remaining in central position.

Will the iPhone 18 Pro/Max display change?

Stephan Wiesend

Screen sizes should be consistent with the 6.3 and 6.9-inch displays on the current models, but reports suggest a massive jump in brightness from the current 1600 nits HDR and 3,000 nits peak. https://www.macworld.com/article/3039085/the-iphone-18-is-expected-to-get-a-much-brighter-screen.html

According to Weibo leaker, Instant Digital, Chinese supplier BOE has revealed that Apple is targeting unprecedentedly high brightness requirements for the display. The Elec corroborated this, claiming BOE is struggling with iPhone OLED production so panel orders have been shifted to Samsung Display.

Most likely: An increase in brightness is expected, but there are no details yet on the extent of the improvement.

How powerful will the A20 chip in the iPhone 18 Pro/Max be?

The iPhone 18 series is expected to use a new A20 chip, built on TSMC’s N2 (2nm) process. This will represent a major architectural shift for Apple’s smartphone silicon, primarily due to the transition to a more advanced manufacturing process. 

This move to a smaller process allows for more transistors in the same space, which is projected to deliver up to 15% faster performance and 30% better power efficiency compared to the A19 chip. 

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models will utilize an A20 Pro variant to further differentiate their capabilities. This increased power is expected to support advanced features.

The A20 could also follow the lead of Apple’s M-series chips by introducing “super cores,” similar to the M5 chip

The A20 is rumored to use a new process called Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging to incorporate the RAM into the SoC’s package. It’s not clear what the benefit will be, but more tightly integrated RAM can mean more memory bandwidth and lower RAM latency, or better power efficiency.

Most likely: A typical Apple leap in efficiency and speed, with behind-the-scenes gains rather than dramatic user-visible changes.

Will connectivity improve (5G, Wi-Fi, satellite) with iPhone 18 Pro/Max?

iPhone 18 Pro models will likely feature the second generation of Apple’s in-house 5G modem, the C2 chip. 

The C2 modem is expected to replace Qualcomm across the lineup. This should improve:

• Efficiency
• Performance
• mmWave support

There are also reports of full satellite internet support, expanding beyond emergency use. The Information says that Apple is gearing up to support 5G networks that are served from satellites, namely Starlink satellites. While the iPhone has offered satellite connectivity for emergency situations for years, this would allow the iPhone 18 models to have full internet access via satellite, not just emergency services.

The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip (N1) will likely remain unchanged. Apple debuted its local networking chip in the iPhone 17 line – the N1 supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread networking. We haven’t heard anything about an N2, and honestly, one probably isn’t needed so soon. Could Apple have an “N1X” surprise in store the way it did with the C1X? It’s possible, but so far the rumor mill expects Apple to build the iPhone 18 line with the same N1 chip as found in the iPhone 17.

Most likely: A meaningful upgrade in connectivity, especially if satellite internet expands.

How much will the iPhone 18 Pro/Max cost?

Pricing may remain the same as the current generation as no major pricing changes are currently rumored for the new iPhone 18 series.

However, the introduction of a folding iPhone could dramatically change the pricing structure, as it will reportedly have a starting price of $1,999 or more.

Current pricing is as follows: