{"id":66626,"date":"2026-07-11T15:00:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T13:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.apfelpatient.de\/?p=66626"},"modified":"2026-07-11T15:03:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T13:03:47","slug":"iphone-18-pro-all-rumors-at-a-glance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apfelpatient.de\/en\/allgemein\/iphone-18-pro-alle-geruechte-im-ueberblick","title":{"rendered":"iPhone 18 Pro: All the rumors at a glance"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 \u2013 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apple has released new Pro iPhones every September since 2017. The iPhone 18 Pro continues this tradition \u2013 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 \u2013 which might not be called iPhone Fold<\/a>, but rather iPhone Ultra<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

iPhone 18 Pro: The most important points in brief<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>Expectation<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Release<\/td>September 2026<\/td><\/tr>
Chip<\/td>A20 Pro (2nm process), 12 GB RAM<\/td><\/tr>
Modem<\/td>Apple C2 (codename Ganymede) international; US model likely to continue with Qualcomm for mmWave<\/td><\/tr>
Connectivity<\/td>N2 chip (Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6+)<\/td><\/tr>
Camera<\/td>Variable aperture (48 MP Fusion), 24 MP front camera<\/td><\/tr>
Display<\/td>6.3\u2033 (Pro) \/ 6.9\u2033 (Pro Max), smaller Dynamic Island<\/td><\/tr>
Colors<\/td>Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Silver\/Grey \u2013 three to four shades (no black)<\/td><\/tr>
Price<\/td>Higher prices expected; estimates for the Pro range from ~1,150 to ~1,399 $ (price disputed)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Design: Familiar shape, new colors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The iPhone 18 Pro will be largely identical in appearance to the iPhone 17 Pro. The display sizes will remain at 6.3 inches (Pro) and 6.9 inches (Pro Max), and the aluminum unibody design and triple-lens platform camera will return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest visual change: Apple is introducing a new signature color, Dark Cherry \u2013 which would be the first ever red Pro iPhone. The expected color palette includes Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver. The two-tone design (glass vs. frame) is said to be less noticeable on the iPhone 18 Pro than on its predecessor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of May 2026, the first dummy models in all four colors<\/a> offered a first real glimpse of the palette. Leaker Sonny Dickson's publications confirmed the previously leaked Pantone codes: Light Blue (Pantone 2121), Dark Cherry (Pantone 6076), Dark Gray (Pantone 426C), and Silver (Pantone 427C). A slight ambiguity remains: while the dummy images simply label the fourth variant as black, the Pantone list specifies it as Dark Gray. How Apple ultimately markets the model will likely only be determined at its official launch. Dickson himself highlights the new Dark Cherry as a likely bestseller, especially after the strong success of Cosmic Orange the previous year. In early June, further evidence emerged: leaked case parts revealed three of the four colors<\/a> \u2014Dark Cherry, Light Blue, and Dark Gray - while Silver, the fourth variant, was missing from the images. The origin of these parts, however, remains unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"iPhone
Image: @SonnyDickson \/ X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the end of June, Ice Universe followed up with a picture of an alleged SIM card slot for the iPhone 18 Pro in the same wine-red "Dark Cherry"<\/a> color \u2013 a shimmering shade that shifts between burgundy, warm brown, and dark purple depending on the light. When asked if there would also be a black version, the leaker simply replied "No": The darkest model, according to him, would be Dark Gray; a true black is not planned for the Pro series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final number of colors has become less certain. As of July 1st, Instant Digital listed only three shades for the iPhone 18 Pro: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, and a silver-gray<\/a> that combines silver and dark gray into a single variant. This would place the Pro model exactly on par with the iPhone 17 Pro, which also launched with only three colors and no dark shade, despite initial speculation of more options. The basic color palette is therefore largely consistent across sources \u2013 the main point of contention is the number: three or four. It wouldn't be unprecedented for Apple to drop a color shortly before launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding the dimensions, a recent leak contradicts an earlier assumption: The iPhone 18 Pro Max is said to be exactly 8.75 mm thick, just like its predecessor<\/a> \u2013 and not slightly thicker, as previously claimed by the same leaker. Apple would then have to accommodate the larger battery by redesigning the internal components without increasing the overall size of the device. However, it remains possible that the model will exceed 240 grams, making it heavier than the 233-gram iPhone 17 Pro Max.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 possibly a frosted or milky glass effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In early April 2026, the first dummy models of the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Fold surfaced<\/a>. They confirm that the design remains almost identical to the iPhone 17 Pro \u2013 same button layout, same plateau camera, same proportions. A more recent dummy of the iPhone 18 Pro Max<\/a> also shows a slightly thicker camera unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question of thickness isn't entirely clear: Another source from the supply chain disagrees, claiming the iPhone 18 Pro will be around two millimeters thicker<\/a> \u2013 with a total height of approximately 9.9 to 10.9 millimeters. This presents two conflicting figures: one showing a virtually unchanged casing, the other a noticeable increase. Both figures come from individual sources with mixed results \u2013 a definitive picture will only emerge with near-production dummy models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More concrete measurements reinforce this picture: A hands-on review by YouTuber Vadir Yuryev using dummy models measured the overall thickness of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, including the camera module, at 13.77 mm, compared to 12.92 mm for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The increase is almost entirely concentrated in the camera module, while the rest of the body remains virtually unchanged in thickness<\/a>. Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station cites a particularly large 48 MP sensor with a variable aperture as the reason \u2013 larger sensors and lenses simply require more height.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aluminum finish: Apple sticks with it despite Scratchgate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A key point of discussion surrounding the Pro design remains: the anodized aluminum finish with its known weaknesses around the camera module. According to Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, Apple is adopting the process from the iPhone 17 Pro without any modifications \u2013 neither the material nor the coating will be changed. A more recent post from the same leaker also explicitly warns that the new color options could also remain susceptible to wear and tear over time<\/a>. Apple internally classifies the chipping on the sharp edges of the camera platform as normal wear and tear and therefore does not consider it a warranty case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apple's breakdown of the damage into two independent causes is revealing: Some of the marks on display devices in the stores apparently didn't come from scratches, but from worn MagSafe charging stands that transferred material to the back \u2013 removable by cleaning. The sensitive edges around the camera platform, on the other hand, are considered typical wear and tear of the material. This exact combination of good overall robustness and localized vulnerability is likely to be repeated in the successor model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The background: Aluminum is lighter, significantly cheaper to process, and aligns with Apple's carbon neutrality goals. Added to this is a technical advantage, which the latest announcement particularly emphasizes \u2013 the alloy's excellent heat dissipation. Especially with the power-hungry A20 Pro, heat can be dissipated more quickly from the inside, thus maintaining stable performance under load for longer. From Apple's perspective, these advantages apparently outweigh the occasional scratching issues. Those who plan to use the iPhone 18 Pro without a case should be prepared for marks to appear more quickly on the edges of the camera module than on the titanium-based predecessors \u2013 whether a deeper pigment tone will better conceal minor scratches remains to be seen before the market launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dynamic Island: Smaller, but not gone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A key rumor concerns the Dynamic Island. Several independent sources \u2013 including Bloomberg, Instant Digital, and Ross Young \u2013 report that Apple will move the Face ID flood illuminator beneath the display. This would shrink the Dynamic Island by approximately 35 percent. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 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 \u2013 as we have already summarized<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A striking indication of the planned miniaturization comes from the software itself: In iOS 27, Siri AI emerges from the Dynamic Island as an elongated, pill-shaped light source<\/a> when activated \u2013 while Siri appears circular in almost every other location, from the app icon to the display on iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro. X user @MichalLangmajer connected the two points: The oval shape on the iPhone is explained by the current notch width, and on an iPhone 18 with a smaller cutout, this could become a perfect circle. This connection hasn't been confirmed, but it demonstrates how closely Apple links the interface design to the display cutout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chip: A20 Pro manufactured using a 2nm process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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