Even though the iPhone 17 series is barely new enough to hit the store shelves, leaks and rumours have already started pouring in about the next-generation iPhones – the iPhone 18 series. Expected to launch in almost a year from now, the next-generation iPhone 18 series might bring massive changes to Apple’s ecosystem. The iPhone 18 range, which is rumoured to consist of the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Air 2, could bring around many changes.
While it is still too early in the iPhone 18 rumour belt, it seems that Apple is coming up with substantial changes to the design and features of its next-gen smartphones. The FaceID sensors, which were repositioned under the Dynamic Island in 2022, will now be put under the display to liberate more space. The camera system will be upgraded and so will the wireless modem.
Hence, if you don’t have plans to upgrade to the iPhone 17 series this year, here is everything you can expected from the next generation iPhone 18 series.
Face ID under the screen
Face ID has been around since 2017, nestled in the iPhone’s forehead in the form of a display notch and later, a Dynamic Island – the latter being a pill-shaped cutout. With the iPhone 18 series, Apple is now expected to reduce the Dynamic Island’s size by putting the Face ID sensors underneath the display layer. With just the camera exposed on the display as a cutout, the iPhone’s forehead might liberate more space for the UI elements and provide a less intrusive viewing experience, just like most Android smartphones.
Big camera upgrades
While Apple gave the iPhone 17 range a notable camera upgrade, the iPhone 18 series is also set to receive a major upgrade to its cameras next year. Borrowing the idea from Samsung, Apple is now set to introduce the concept of variable aperture to the 48MP main camera sensor. A variable aperture on the iPhone would give photographers and videographers superior manual control over how much light to let in.
Performance upgrades, as usual
Under the hood, the performance gains are expected to be substantial too. The new models are anticipated to be powered by the A20 Pro chip, which is rumoured to be manufactured on a cutting-edge 2-nanometer process. This next-generation chip is expected to deliver a significant boost in speed and power efficiency, thus allowing for more advanced on-device AI features and a smoother user experience.
The A20 Pro chip is also expected to bring in a more efficient C2 modem, which is rumoured to improve network connectivity and battery stamina.
A different launch strategy
The iPhone 18 series is also expected to be launched in a different fashion from the iPhone 17 series. Leaks suggest that Apple would reserve the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Air 2 for the September 2026 launch event, thus presenting these models as Apple’s best smartphone offerings. By March 2027, Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e as two more affordable models, all in a bid to boost sales during the start of a new financial year.
