So far Apple is still well over a year away from unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro series, but its leaks have already started outlining what we should expect from its 2026 flagship phones.
If we believe these reports then iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may introduce some of the biggest changes seen on Apple’s Pro models in a long time.
The upcoming phones could feel noticeably different from recent generations having a redesigned front layout and upgraded cameras to a completely new approach to chip and memory integration.
This is creating a dilemma for the buyers as they are debating whether to upgrade sooner or wait, it appears that the iPhone 18 Pro lineup is already giving plenty of reasons to pause.
What To Expect In iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max As Per The Leaks?
Basically, the front design could be where users notice the biggest difference according to the leaks.
The iPhone maker seems to be working on placing Face ID components beneath the display on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max reportedly.
If that happens then the familiar Dynamic Island may no longer be part of the design.
Also the front camera could move to a small hole positioned near the top-left corner of the screen, offering a cleaner viewing experience.
Also the overall body and frame are expected to remain similar to the iPhone 17 Pro series, this internal rearrangement could make the display feel less cluttered during everyday use.
No need to worry as the rear side is expected to remain familiar as Apple is likely to continue with its triple rear camera setup on a raised module.
We are expecting small refinements including possible changes to the back glass finish and how it pairs with the aluminium frame.
There are also rumors of new colour options being tested, with darker tones such as deep purple, burgundy, or a coffee-inspired brown being considered for the Pro models.
What About Camera?
Again Cameras are the major area of attention as the leaks suggest introduction of a mechanical iris on at least one rear camera, allowing variable aperture control.
This change is suggested for the first time for iPhones and could improve exposure control and depth handling in challenging lighting conditions.
The addition of this feature may also reduce the need for heavy software processing in certain shooting scenarios.
Besides this, there are reports about a new three-layer stacked image sensor sourced from Samsung, which could appear on at least one of the Pro models.
This new addition is expected to offer faster readout speeds, lower noise levels, and improved dynamic range.
There are talks that both main and telephoto cameras will feature larger apertures, which should help deliver better results in low-light photography and videography.
A New Chipset & Much More
Apple is expected to introduce the A20 Pro chipset which is built using TSMC’s upcoming 2nm process, and is said to bring a new packaging method where the RAM is placed directly on the same wafer as the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine.
They say that it could lead to better performance, improved efficiency, and enhanced thermal control.
This integration may also free up internal space, which Apple could use for a larger battery or improved cooling.
Apple is also planning to give an upgrade to the battery life particularly on the Pro Max model.
So we are expecting the iPhone 18 Pro Max to get slightly thicker than its predecessor, possibly to accommodate a larger battery.
Its capacity could go up to around 5,100mAh as this change could also push the phone’s weight beyond 240 grams, making it heavier than previous iPhones.
We can also look for connectivity upgrades as the iPhone 18 Pro Max is tipped to feature Apple’s next-generation C2 modem, which could bring mmWave 5G support back to Apple’s in-house modem lineup.
This is definitely going to help in closing the performance gap with Qualcomm-powered iPhones in regions where mmWave networks are available.
