iPhone 18 Pro: All the rumors at a glance

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are facing one of the most exciting upgrade cycles in years. Variable aperture, 2nm chip, smaller Dynamic Island, and Apple's own 5G modem – all expected in September 2026. At the same time, Apple is changing its release schedule for the first time: only the Pro models and the iPhone Fold will arrive in the fall, while the base iPhone 18 won't be available until spring 2027.

Apple has released new Pro iPhones every September since 2017. The iPhone 18 Pro continues this tradition – but with one crucial difference: the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e won't be released until spring 2027. Those wanting to upgrade in fall 2026 will have to choose between a Pro model or Apple's first foldable – which might not be called iPhone Fold, but rather iPhone Ultra. Two Chinese leakers (Digital Chat Station and Instant Digital) both report that Apple could position the foldable as a premium flagship model under the Ultra label.

Compared to the current iPhone 17 Pro, which we compared in our iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro buying guide, the iPhone 18 Pro brings several genuine hardware innovations. This article summarizes all the current rumors.

iPhone 18 Pro: The most important points in brief

Detail	Expectation
Release	September 2026
Chip	A20 Pro (2nm process), 12 GB RAM
Modem	Apple C2 with mmWave-5G
Connectivity	N2 chip (Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6+)
Camera	Variable aperture (48 MP Fusion), 24 MP front camera
Display	6.3″ (Pro) / 6.9″ (Pro Max), smaller Dynamic Island
Colors	Deep Red as the new premium color, no black
Price	Expected to remain unchanged, starting at €1,299 (Pro) / €1,449 (Pro Max)

Design: Familiar shape, new colors

The iPhone 18 Pro will be largely identical in appearance to the iPhone 17 Pro. Display sizes will remain at 6.3 inches (Pro) and 6.9 inches (Pro Max), and the titanium-aluminum casing and triple-lens platform camera will return.

The biggest visual change: According to Mark Gurman, Apple is testing a new color called Deep Red – which would be the first ever red Pro iPhone. As we've already reported, Apple is once again foregoing a black version. The two-tone design (glass vs. frame) is said to be less noticeable on the iPhone 18 Pro than on its predecessor.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max could be slightly thicker – from 8.75 mm to 8.8 mm – and weigh over 240 grams. This is due to a larger battery.

Another detail: The Ceramic Shield area on the back (where MagSafe is located) is said to have a "slightly transparent" surface. What exactly Apple means by this is still unclear – possibly a frosted or milky glass effect.

Furthermore, in early April 2026, the first dummy models of the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Fold surfaced. They confirm that the design remains almost identical to the iPhone 17 Pro – same button layout, same plateau camera, same proportions.

Dynamic Island: Smaller, but not gone

A key rumor concerns the Dynamic Island. Several independent sources – including Bloomberg, Instant Digital, and Ross Young – report that Apple will move the Face ID flood illuminator beneath the display. This would shrink the Dynamic Island by approximately 35 mm. Leaker Ice Universe has provided the first concrete measurements: the width is expected to decrease from around 20.7 mm to approximately 13.5 mm.

Face ID isn't completely hidden under the display yet. The front camera, infrared camera, and dot projector remain visible. A completely invisible Face ID isn't expected until the iPhone 20 (2027) at the earliest.

However, there is also a dissenting voice: Leaker Digital Chat Station initially reported that Apple might leave the Dynamic Island display unchanged. In an update from April 9, 2026, he clarified: Apple is currently weighing two options – reusing the existing display shape from the iPhone 17 Pro or implementing the smaller version. A final decision has apparently not yet been made. The rumor situation on this point is therefore not clear – as we have already summarized.

Chip: A20 Pro manufactured using a 2nm process

The A20 Pro will be the first Apple chip manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process. The switch from 3nm to 2nm brings:

Higher transistor density for more power
Improved energy efficiency – estimated at 30% compared to the A19 Pro.
Improved Neural Engine for local AI tasks

In addition, a new packaging technology (WMCM) places RAM directly on the same wafer as the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine. This reduces latency and further improves efficiency. Furthermore, the RAM is expected to increase to 12 GB – compared to 8 GB in the iPhone 17 Pro. More RAM means better multitasking performance and more headroom for local AI models.

The A20 Pro will also make the iPhone 18 Pro better suited for Apple Intelligence and local AI processing.

Modem: Apple C2 replaces Qualcomm

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to use Apple's own C2 modem – the third generation after the C1 (iPhone 16e) and the C1X (iPhone Air). The C2 is said to be faster, more efficient, and, for the first time, mmWave 5G-capable. This would end Apple's last remaining reliance on Qualcomm in its premium iPhones.

Additionally, the C2 could support satellite internet via NR-NTN – that is, full internet access via satellite, not just emergency SOS.

Connectivity: N2 chip for Wi-Fi 7+

In addition to the C2 modem, the iPhone 18 Pro is also expected to feature Apple's new N2 chip for wireless connections. Its predecessor, the N1, was first used in the iPhone 17 and brought Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. What specific improvements the N2 will offer is not yet known – faster wireless connections and better efficiency with AirDrop and Personal Hotspot are expected.

Camera: Variable aperture as a highlight

The biggest camera innovation of the iPhone 18 Pro is the variable aperture in the 48MP Fusion main camera. Previous iPhones used a fixed aperture of f/1.78. A variable aperture allows the amount of light and depth of field to be mechanically controlled – a feature previously reserved for professional cameras.

Other expected camera improvements:

New Samsung sensor with three layers (PD TR Logic) for less noise and faster response times – Samsung would be a sensor supplier alongside Sony for the first time.
Front camera upgrade from 12 MP to 24 MP
Simplified camera control without a capacitive layer, using only a pressure sensor.

It is not yet certain whether the variable aperture will be included in both Pro models or only in the Pro Max.

iPhone 18 Pro: Display and battery

LTPO+ with significantly higher brightness

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to use new LTPO+ display technology, which regulates refresh rates even more efficiently, thus saving power. Particularly interesting: According to reports, Apple is setting "unprecedentedly high requirements" for display brightness – at least one supplier is said to be having difficulty meeting them. This suggests a noticeable increase in brightness compared to the current 1,600 nits HDR / 3,000 nits peak brightness.

Larger battery in the Pro Max

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to have a 5,100 to 5,200 mAh battery – slightly more than the 5,088 mAh of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Combined with the more efficient 2nm chip and LTPO+ display technology, the iPhone 18 Pro Max could offer the best battery life of any iPhone to date.

Release and new strategy

Apple is changing its iPhone release schedule for the first time in 2026:

September 2026: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Fold
Spring 2027: iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, possibly iPhone Air 2

Anyone wanting a new iPhone this fall will have to opt for the Pro model or the Fold. The cheaper models won't be available until months later.

Price: Remains stable

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects Apple to keep the prices of the iPhone 18 Pro stable despite higher chip costs (2nm manufacturing costs approximately $70 % more per chip) in order to gain market share. The expected prices are:

Model	Expected price (DE)
iPhone 18 Pro	from €1,299
iPhone 18 Pro Max	from €1,449

iPhone 18 Pro: Who should wait?

The iPhone 18 Pro brings genuine hardware innovations with its variable aperture, 2nm chip, and proprietary C2 modem – not just the usual percentage improvements. The variable aperture is a real upgrade, especially for users who value photography.

Those who already own an iPhone 17 Pro will hardly notice the difference in everyday use – the design and display remain virtually identical. The iPhone 18 Pro is primarily worthwhile for users of older models (iPhone 15 Pro or earlier) who want to skip several generations in one go.

Our recommendation: If you're planning on getting a new iPhone anyway, you should wait until September. The iPhone 18 Pro could be one of the more interesting upgrades in recent years. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those compatible with HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / TatianaKim)