Leaked dummy units of the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have surfaced, hinting at notable camera upgrades and design tweaks. According to tech YouTuber Vadim Yuryev, the dummy models show a significantly thicker camera bump compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, with more protruding black glass. This aligns with long-standing rumours that Apple will introduce variable aperture technology for the first time on an iPhone, along with improved sensors.
Camera Overhaul
The most anticipated change is the addition of variable aperture, which would allow users to manually control the amount of light entering the lens, similar to a DSLR. Ming-Chi Kuo reported in December 2024 that BE Semiconductor would supply the aperture blade assembly equipment. Multiple leakers, including ETNews, have since corroborated this. The telephoto lens is also expected to receive a larger aperture upgrade, moving from f/2.8 on the iPhone 17 Pro to a wider setting.
DigiTimes reported in January 2025 that Samsung has developed a three-layer stacked camera sensor specifically for the iPhone 18, promising better responsiveness and reduced noise.
Smaller Dynamic Island
Leaker Ice Universe claimed in January 2026 that the Dynamic Island will shrink by 35%, from 20.7mm to about 13.5mm in width. This was backed by a supposed prototype image shared by X account Early Apple in late March, showing a faint circular area under the display where the Face ID flood illuminator may be hidden. However, Instant Digital clarified that only the flood illuminator moves under the screen, not the entire Face ID system, so a hole-punch cutout is not expected until at least 2027.
Design and Colours
The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to retain the 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes and the triple-lens plateau design introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro. Bezels will remain unchanged. A new deep red colour option has been widely rumoured, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station both reporting that Apple is testing such a finish. Apple is also reportedly refining the back glass process to reduce the two-tone contrast seen on the iPhone 17 Pro.
Release Date and Pricing
Apple is expected to shift its launch strategy, unveiling only the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max (alongside a foldable) in September 2026, with the standard iPhone 18 delayed to spring 2027. The most likely announcement date is Wednesday 9 September, with pre-orders on Friday 11 September and release on Friday 18 September. Pricing is expected to remain unchanged from the iPhone 17 Pro series, as Apple focuses on cost management and negotiates favourable memory chip deals with Samsung and SK Hynix.
Specs and Battery
The iPhone 18 Pro will be powered by the A20 chip, built on TSMC's 2nm process, offering up to 15% faster performance and 30% better efficiency. It may also feature a new packaging method that integrates RAM directly with the processor to boost Apple Intelligence capabilities. The C2 modem, developed in-house, will improve 5G performance and potentially support satellite internet connectivity. The iPhone 18 Pro Max could house a 5,100-5,200mAh battery, making it the heaviest iPhone ever at around 243g.
As more leaks emerge, this page will be updated with the latest information.
