With just a couple of months to go before an expected launch, rumors about Apple’s next flagship smartphones, the iPhone 18 Pro models, are heating up.
Many potential customers usually hold off on iPhone purchases right before Apple’s fall event, but things could be a little different this year. The company raised prices across several major product lines last month, but the iPhone was not included, so you may be wondering whether to buy an iPhone now or wait to see what the iPhone 18 Pro has to offer and how much it’ll cost.
Think you know what Apple will do next? Play our Big Guessing Game for a chance to win an Apple Watch!
To make things easier, we’ve rounded up the biggest iPhone 18 Pro rumors we have heard so far. While these features and prices aren’t confirmed yet, they should help paint a picture of what to expect from Apple’s next big smartphones.
iPhone 18 Pro: Revised Lineup
The biggest rumor around the iPhone 18 lineup is its release timeline. Unlike previous years, where Apple released four phones in the same series in one go, Bloomberg reports Apple could take a two-pronged approach to ensure consistent revenue throughout the year.
Flagship phones, such as the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and the first-ever foldable iPhone, could be unveiled in September, while the base iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, and the iPhone 18e could be launched in spring 2027. We discussed the foldable iPhone in detail in a separate rumor round-up, so we’ll just stick to the Pro models here.
iPhone 18 Pro: Design and Colors
Since the iPhone 17 Pro models included a major design overhaul, with a new camera “plateau” and two-toned color scheme, Apple isn’t expected to change the appearance much in 2026.
That said, the colors could get a bit bolder. Several leakers, including Sonny Dickson and Instant Digital, claim that Apple could go with a never-before-seen cherry red and a new light blue, alongside the regular dark gray. Dickson also shared pictures of potential dummies, including one in light gray.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
While the appearance of the rear is expected to remain the same, the in-hand feel could be a lot different. Ice Universe says the battery could get slightly larger on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, contributing to increased weight and bulk. More precisely, the leaker expects the device to be 0.25mm thicker and 7 grams heavier.
iPhone 18 Pro Display
On the front, we could see one significant change. The Dynamic Island, or the camera cutout, could be reduced by 35%, Ice Universe says. This won’t shrink the feature’s overall functionality, but it could move the Face ID sensor’s illuminator to one corner below the screen.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
When it comes to display sizes, the consensus is that the iPhone 18 Pro will come in its usual 6.3-inch screen, while the Pro Max will have a 6.9-inch screen. Apple, however, has reportedly been pushing suppliers to provide much brighter displays and could use the more power-efficient LTPO+ display tech.
iPhone 18 Pro Cameras
The iPhone 17 Pro lineup bumped all three cameras to 48MP. For the iPhone 18 Pro, the biggest camera rumor we have heard is around variable aperture. While the iPhone 17 models had a fixed aperture, the iPhone 18 Pro may introduce a variable aperture. ETNews reports that the modified system has already entered production and would help the cameras deliver more light to the sensors in dark conditions and reduce light in bright conditions.
iPhone 18 Pro Performance
The iPhone 18 Pro is likely to receive a performance boost with the A20 chip. It will use TSMC’s 2nm technology, an upgrade from the previous generation’s 3nm tech. The transition will allow more transistors on each chip but also raise chip costs by 50%, MacRumors reports.
The chip is also rumored to have TSMC’s Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) technology, which infuses RAM into the same wafer as the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine. Overall, it is expected to be more efficient and faster than the A19 chips, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Recommended by Our Editors
Apple usually reserves the base variant of its chip series for the standard iPhone models, while the Pro models get the corresponding Pro chip. With the iPhone 18 series, Apple is reportedly considering offering just the high-end variant across the lineup.
Another expected upgrade is for the modem. The iPhone 17 Pro models had an unspecified third-party modem, but the iPhone 18 Pro could get the company’s proprietary C2 modem. It will support 5G satellite connectivity and reduce the scope of location data retained by networks, according to MacRumors.
iPhone 18 Pro Battery
Apple never reveals its battery capacities, but multiple leakers have indicated a larger and more efficient battery for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. According to Digital Chat Station, the top variant will have a capacity of up to 5,200mAh, slightly better than the 5,088mAh capacity of its predecessor. With a more efficient modem and processor, the battery life could be significantly longer. The iPhone 18 Pro, on the other hand, could see a minimal bump from 4,252mAh to 4,288mAh.
iPhone 18 Pro: Pricing and Release
This is what much of the decision-making hinges on. Apple has avoided raising prices for its biggest revenue generator, but rising RAM and storage costs are unavoidable, by CEO Tim Cook’s own admission.
Common sense suggests a price hike for iPhones is inevitable in September. According to The Wall Street Journal‘s estimate, based on rising component costs, the iPhone 18 Pro would start at $1,299. If you couple that with recent Apple trends, the iPhone 18 Pro Max could be priced $100 higher, taking its starting price to $1,399. In comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, while the 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199.
The iPhone 18 Pro’s release date hasn’t been finalized yet. As usual, we expect Apple to unveil the lineup at its annual fall event in September and begin shipping the devices a few days later.
About Our Expert
Experience
Jibin is a tech news writer based out of Ahmedabad, India. Previously, he served as the editor of iGeeksBlog and is a self-proclaimed tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex information for a broader audience.
