Rumors about new Apple products are constantly circulating, and the iPhone 18 series is no exception. So, we already have a good idea of what to expect from the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
One important point worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year, adopting a two-phase release and starting with the iPhone 18 series. This means that the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Fold will be released in September 2026, followed by the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e in spring 2027.
Rumored features of the iPhone 18 Pro
Design
Rumors suggest that the iPhone 18 Pro series will largely retain the same design as the iPhone 17 Pro models . The camera system on the back will look the same as the current generation, with a raised “plateau” and three lenses arranged in a triangular arrangement . The screen dimensions are also expected to remain unchanged, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max continuing to use 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch panels respectively .
However, the iPhone 18 Pro models could ditch the current two-tone back case look found on the iPhone 17 Pro.
See also: Apple to announce multiple new products in the first week of March
Smaller Dynamic Island
Rumors continue to circulate about whether the iPhone 18 Pro models will introduce under-display Face ID, but reports remain divided on when the technology will actually arrive. The feature would move the TrueDepth camera system under the display, eliminating the need for the current Dynamic Island.
According to Wayne Ma of The Information, Apple is aiming for a design without the Dynamic Island, replacing it with a single pinhole camera in the top left corner of the display. However, other sources dispute this claim. Display analyst Ross Young believes that under-display Face ID could come to the iPhone 18 Pro, but says a smaller Dynamic Island will still be present.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has echoed this view, reporting that the new models will feature a thinner Dynamic Island rather than removing it entirely.
Apple is also reportedly testing new camera miniaturization to reduce the size of the front camera currently located on Dynamic Island.
Weibo leaker “Ice Universe” has claimed that the Dynamic Island notch on the iPhone 18 Pro models will be about 35% narrower than on the iPhone 17 Pro models. Specifically, he said it will be about 13.5mm wide, down from about 20.7mm.
Meanwhile, Chinese leaker Instant Digital has offered another version of events, saying that the Dynamic Island will shrink in size, but that Face ID and under-display camera technology will not debut this year.
Battery Life
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a larger battery, according to a Chinese leaker. Weibo user “Digital Chat Station” said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. According to another rumor, the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s body will be slightly thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, increasing the device’s weight to around 243 grams.
See also: Apple is working on three AI-powered wearables with cameras
This would make the iPhone 18 Pro Max about 3 grams heavier than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is currently the heaviest model Apple has released. A larger battery is the most likely reason.
A20 Pro processor
The iPhone 18 Pro models will use Apple's A20 chip, built on TSMC's 2nm for power and performance improvements. The A20 series is expected to offer about a 15% speed increase and about 30% better performance compared to the A19 series used in Apple's iPhone 17 models.
Apple's A20 chip will be packaged using Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) technology, suggesting that at least some A20 chips will have RAM integrated directly into the same wafer as the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine. This could contribute to faster performance for both overall tasks and Apple Intelligence, and longer battery life.
Modem C2
Apple plans to include its next-generation C2 modem in the iPhone 18 Pro models. The C2 is expected to offer faster speeds, improved power efficiency, and support for mmWave 5G in the United States — a feature missing from the previous C1 and C1X.
Apple's modems are part of a long-term strategy to reduce reliance on Qualcomm, which currently supplies 5G modems for the rest of the iPhone lineup. The company has been working for years to develop its own cellular chips, aiming for deeper integration and greater control over power management and performance.
New Camera Sensor
Samsung is working on a new three-layer image sensor, which is reportedly intended for the iPhone 18. The sensor, known as PD-TR-Logic, incorporates three layers of circuitry, which will improve camera responsiveness, reduce noise, and increase dynamic range.
Variable Aperture
Apple is planning to equip this year’s iPhone 18 Pro models with a variable aperture lens, according to reports. Leaker Digital Chat Station claims that the main rear camera — what Apple is calling a 48-megapixel Fusion — will offer a variable aperture, which would be a first for an iPhone. A variable aperture system physically adjusts the aperture of the lens, letting in more light for low-light shots or narrowing the aperture for brighter scenes and greater depth of field.
Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in November 2024 that the iPhone 18 Pro models will get the feature.
Simplified Camera Control
Apple is reportedly working on simplifying the design of the Camera Control on the iPhone 18 models in order to reduce costs. The current button on the iPhone 17 models uses capacitive and pressure sensors. However, according to Instant Digital, Apple will remove the capacitive sensing layer and retain only pressure sensing recognition to achieve all the Camera Control features on the iPhone 18.
See also: Apple Podcasts: 'Seamless' switching between audio and video shows
5G Satellite Internet
According to a report from The Information, Apple is planning to add support for 5G networks that operate via satellites (instead of terrestrial towers). This advancement would allow future iPhones to gain full satellite internet connectivity, not just limited emergency features.
If Apple achieves its 2026 goal, the first devices to feature 5G satellite internet will likely be the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the long-awaited foldable iPhone.
New Colors
Rumor has it that Apple is testing three new color options for the iPhone 18 Pro models: burgundy, brown, and purple.
