iPhone 18: What we currently know about Apple’s next major phone

Key points to remember:

• Features: Dynamic Island could move to the top left corner, cameras could have variable aperture, and a bigger battery could be on the way.
• Colors: Apple could launch burgundy, purple and brown versions.
• Price: There have been no leaks regarding the price increases, which is good news at this point.
• Release date: Apple could spread the iPhone 18 launch between September 2026 and February/March 2027.

People are still comfortable with the iPhone17yet many rumors are bubbling about what Apple has in store for 2026 and beyond for its iPhone 18 lineup. Released on September 19, the iPhone 17 series has impressed us with its surprisingly Feature-rich base modelthe incredibly thin iPhoneAir and the boldly redesigned model iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. We hope that next year’s lineup might also surprise us.

Apple is less than two years away from the 20th anniversary of the launch of the original iPhone. Although the company sells more phones in the United States than its Android competitors, Apple is consistently behind Samsung in global sales and just ahead of Chinese phone makers like Xiaomi. There’s a lot at stake for Apple with the next iPhone, as well as generating interest in a possible foldable device, like the iPhone Fold rumor.

Already, some of the hottest rumors include the Dynamic Island move and the fact that the new Pro models and the standard 18 will have the same RAM as the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. Here’s a look at all the rumors and leaks we’ve discovered about the potential iPhone 18 series.

Latest rumors

iPhone 18 design differences

We hear there will likely be three models: the base iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max. There may also be iPhone Models not in this series, like a second generation Air or the much talked about foldable iPhone. That could mean a total of six iPhone models if you include the 17E.

iPhone designs tend to stay the same year after year, and current rumors suggest that this trend will continue. The screen sizes of all three handsets appear to be the same as before – 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively – with minor design differences in the camera bumps on the back. The base iPhone 18 is rumored to have a smaller camera bump compared to its predecessor, while the Pro and Pro Max will retain the wider “shelf” to accommodate their three rear cameras.

According to a leak from Chinese social media site Weibo, the Pro model could benefit from a “subtle transparent finish” on the rear glass panel. A Chinese leaker reportedly said that the iPhone 18 Pro could have a more unified design compared to the two-tone look it currently has. Some rumors also suggest that it might have a heavier and thicker build. Additionally, it could be available in three new colors: coffee, purple and burgundy. Coffee brown might seem like an odd choice for a phone color, but our own Patrick Holland is open to the concept.

Other rumors suggest changes could be coming to the iPhone’s Dynamic Island. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Weibo user Digital Chat Station suggest that Apple could reduce the size of Dynamic Island on iPhone 18 models. This could result in a small cutout for the camera, as the Face ID sensors may be located under the display.

The Information also recently reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature under-screen Face ID, confirming Bloomberg’s rumor. Additionally, the outlet also reported that the front camera will be moved to the upper left corner of the display and hence, the Dynamic Island cutout will be missing.

We tested under-screen cameras on several phones over the years. The portion of the screen in front of the camera has fewer screen elements and translucent cabling, allowing the selfie camera to “see through” the screen, much like looking through a window with the blinds open. While the idea of ​​having a screen with little to no cutouts is laudable, under-display cameras generally result in poor image quality photos. However, Apple may be the company that finally figures out how to integrate an under-screen camera that captures high-quality images.

A bigger battery for iPhone 18 Pro

After years of customer requests, Apple finally chose the battery over the thinness of the iPhone 17 Pro’s body. And this model continues to surprise us, coming out on top in Patrick Holland’s recent battery life comparison in 35 phones. We are particularly curious to know if Apple will adopt new carbon-silicone battery technology.

According to a post on Chinese social media site Weibo, spotted by 9to5Mac, the iPhone 18 Pro could include a battery larger than 5,000 mAh, specifically 5,000 mAh for models with a physical SIM card slot (as required in some countries) and 5,200 mAh for models that rely solely on eSIM (which give more internal space that can be filled with more battery).

New cameras on iPhone 18

The iPhone’s cameras are another feature that could get a significant upgrade in 2026. Macworld reports that Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro Max could have a variable aperture camera, similar to how DSLR and mirrorless camera lenses work. This allows users to better control the depth of field and brightness of the image. The Information also reported that at least one rear camera on the 18 Pro will have a mechanical iris, another name for a lens aperture.

We’ve seen phone cameras with variable aperture before. The Galaxy S9 launched in 2018 with a dual-aperture mechanical lens on its main camera that could switch between f/1.5, allowing more light in and creating a shallower depth of field, and f/2.4, which emphasized the subject more. But the S9’s image sensor was tiny and the photos it took were just okay. Xiaomi had a variable aperture, between f/1.9 and f/4.0, on the 2023 13 Ultra and 2024 14 Ultra, but each had a large 1-inch type sensor that could take advantage of it. Unfortunately, much to the frustration of CNET’s Andrew Lanxon, the company removed the variable aperture from the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

Macworld also claims that the telephoto lenses on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could have a faster aperture, allowing more light to reach the sensor for better low-light photos. Additionally, MacRumors reports that all iPhone 18 models (except the 18E) would get upgraded 24-megapixel front cameras for improved selfies. It’s worth noting that the iPhone 17 and Air series all feature Apple’s new Center Stage selfie camera, which has a square 18-megapixel sensor and can take horizontal or vertical photos no matter how you hold the phones.

There is also speculation that the iPhone’s camera control button could be simplified. Instead of capacitive and pressure sensors, it could just be pressure sensing for all Camera Control functions.

Updated A20 chip and iPhone 18 specifications

Given that the iPhone 17 line uses the A19 and A19 Pro chips, it makes sense that the upcoming iPhone 18 will use Apple’s new A20 processor. The rumored chips would use a new process called Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module, which integrates RAM directly into the same wafer as the CPU, GPU and Neural Engine. This apparently results in better efficiency and faster performance since everything would be located on the same chip.

We’re also hearing that the iPhone 18 lineup could use Apple’s next-generation C2 modem chip for improved wireless connectivity. Additionally, The Information reports that Apple is preparing to support 5G networks from satellites, potentially giving iPhone 18 models full satellite phone capabilities, not just for EMERGENCIES And send text messages.

MacRumors recently reported that the iPhone 18 could have 12GB of RAM, according to a research note from analyst Jeff Pu.

Although this is not exclusive to the iPhone 18, Apple also recently announced that Google’s Gemini will run its AI-powered Siri later this year.

iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro release date

For years, Apple has held its annual iPhone launch event in the fall. But according to several reportsApple’s smartphone release schedule could be different in the coming years. Bloomberg reported that Apple plans to release the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its new foldable next fall.

The iPhone 18, iPhone 18E and a potential iPhone Air 2, on the other hand, could then debut six months later, in February or March 2027.