Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still months away from release. But credible leakers and industry pundits already have a pretty clear picture of what the upcoming phones will have to offer. From the first-ever variable aperture camera to a smaller Dynamic Island, here is everything we know about the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, including specifications, expected price and release date.
iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: Design and Build
The iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max will carry the same design as the current Pro models, with the large camera island on the back and an aluminium frame, according to reports from several credible sources.
The key difference lies in the back glass, which will be transparent and more seamlessly toned to match the colour of the rest of the device, as suggested by Instant Digital, a Weibo-based leaker.
In July 2026, another well-known Chinese leaker claimed that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be 9mm thick and weigh 240 grams. This is 0.25mm thicker and 7 grams heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
This increase in weight and thickness could be to accommodate the bigger batteries these Pro models are rumoured to include.
In December 2025, The Information claimed that Apple is revamping the Camera Control button by removing touch sensitivity and haptic feedback. It will only have pressure sensitivity.
This means that users might not be able to use the Camera Control buttons to adjust zoom and other camera options. This will be the biggest change to the button since it debuted with the iPhone 16 series. However, this cutdown may apply only to the base iPhone 18.
In June 2026, iPhone 18 Pro colour options leaked, showcasing a new "dark cherry" shade, which will be the signature colour of the series, similar to Cosmic Orange on the iPhone 17 Pro. Alongside a new Sky Blue, Dark Grey and Silver.
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iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: Display and Notch
Coming to the display, multiple insiders report that the iPhone 18 Pro will keep its 6.3-inch screen, and the Pro Max will hold at 6.9 inches, the same as the iPhone 17 Pro series.
Apple is using Samsung M16 OLED panels on its upcoming models, as reported by Korean outlet Elec. The screen is expected to be the Super Retina XDR OLED panel with 1206 x 2622 resolution on the Pro and 1320 x 2868 on the Pro Max, covered by Ceramic Shield 2 glass.
A recent data breach at one of Apple's manufacturers in India leaked a tonne of details about the upcoming Pro devices, which shows that the company has moved the Face ID flood illuminator underneath the display. This will reportedly shrink the size of the Dynamic Island.
Digital Chat Station, a leaker with a strong track record, claims Apple will use hole-in-active-area (HIAA) technology to create a true hole-punch cutout. Other reports are more conservative, describing a smaller Dynamic Island rather than its outright removal.
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iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: Hardware
Both the iPhone 18 Pro models and the rumoured iPhone Ultra (Fold) will feature Apple's A20 Pro chipset, which is based on TSMC's 2nm node. It is expected to bring roughly 15% faster performance and about 30% better efficiency than the A19 Pro currently in the iPhone 17 Pro.
Apple is also rumoured to use TSMC's wafer-level multi-chip module packaging, which places RAM directly on the same wafer as the CPU, GPU and Neural Engine rather than as a separate component. This should reduce the energy cost of moving data between memory and processor.
Both models are expected to ship with 12 GB of RAM, though that is worth watching given the ongoing RAM and storage shortage, which led Apple to increase prices of its entire lineup.
Storage is rumoured to run from 256 GB up to 1 TB, with a 2 TB option likely staying exclusive to the Pro Max, as it has for the past couple of generations.
On connectivity, Apple is expected to continue its shift away from Qualcomm with a second-generation C2 modem, succeeding the C1X currently used in the iPhone 17e.
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iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: Camera
This is the marquee upgrade of the whole lineup. The iPhone 18 Pro and the 18 Pro Max will be the first iPhones to feature a variable-aperture camera setup. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo first reported a variable system for the iPhone 18 Pro in late 2024, and Digital Chat Station has since reported the same.
The same manufacturer breach from earlier further confirmed any doubts, leaking key camera details. Apple could use the new Sony IMX905 sensor for the variable-aperture camera. However, it might only remain limited to the main camera.
Meanwhile, the rest of the camera setup will carry over from the iPhone 17 Pros. This includes a Sony IMX973 telephoto camera, a Sony IMX972 ultra-wide lens and a Sony IMX591 sensor for the LiDAR scanner.
Even the front camera will be the same 18 MP shooter. So, here's a quick breakdown of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max camera setup.
| iPhone 18 Pro / iPhone 18 Pro Max | Camera Specifications (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Main | 48 MP Sony IMX905 sensor with variable aperture |
| Ultra-wide | 48 MP Sony IMX972 sensor |
| Telephoto | 48 MP Sony IMX973 sensor |
| Selfie | 18 MP Sony IMX914 sensor |
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Battery Capacity and Charging
Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station puts the 18 Pro Max's capacity at 5,100–5,200mAh, a modest but good bump over the current 5,088mAh. However, there are limited details about the 18 Pro's battery capacity.
The charging speed is set to be the same as current models with 25W wireless charging support.
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iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: Software
Both models are expected to launch with the upcoming iOS 27 update out of the box, bringing the redesigned Siri AI and the broader set of Apple Intelligence features.
Like the new Describe a Shortcut feature, which lets you create automations with simple prompts or the Extend tool in the Photos app, which allows users to use AI to extend their shots beyond the boundaries of the current image. However, nothing about the software is expected to be Pro-exclusive yet.
iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: Expected Price
Given the current market situation, it is uncertain to pinpoint a fixed price for these devices. Some reports point to a $100–$200 increase, putting the iPhone 18 Pro around $1,299 (~ Rs 1,24,500) and the Pro Max closer to $1,399 (~ Rs 1,34,000).
But Ming-Chi Kuo, one of the more reliable voices on Apple's supply chain, expects Apple to hold the line instead, projecting a flat $1,199 (~ Rs 1,15,000) starting price for the Pro Max, unchanged from the iPhone 17 Pro Max, despite rising 2nm chip and memory costs.
Here's how the rumoured specifications compare between the two models so far:
| Specification | iPhone 18 Pro (Rumoured) | iPhone 18 Pro Max (Rumoured) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3-inch, 120Hz LTPO | 6.9-inch, 120Hz LTPO |
| Chip | Apple A20 Pro (2nm) | Apple A20 Pro (2nm) |
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB |
| Rear Cameras | 48MP Main (variable aperture) + 48MP Ultrawide + 48MP Telephoto | 48MP Main (variable aperture) + 48MP Ultrawide + 48MP Telephoto |
| Front Camera | 18MP | 18MP |
| Battery | Not yet reported | 5,100-5,200mAh |
| Modem | Apple C2 | Apple C2 |
| Software | iOS 27 | iOS 27 |
| Starting Price | $1,099-$1,299 | $1,199-$1,399 |
iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: Potential Release Date
The launch date of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to be around September 8–9, 2026. This might be the date when Apple will release its Pro models and showcase its first foldable iPhone.
However, the base iPhone 18 launch will be delayed, as it is expected to arrive sometime in 2027. Nothing is official yet, and we'll update this guide as more details emerge.
