GTA 6 keeps getting delayed endlessly, but what won’t be likely to be delayed and disappointing is the iPhone 18 Pro Max, the successor to this year’s iconic iPhone 17 Pro Max. The 17 Pro Max has introduced a host of mega new features, including the bold redesign, a beefy chipset, and a set of advanced cameras all around. With the iPhone 18 Pro Max, however, Apple’s flagship smartphone is expected to get five crucial upgrades that could make the iPhone 17 Pro Max seem old.
For those in the unknown, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to accompany the iPhone 18 Pro and the highly anticipated iPhone Fold at the September launch event next year. The rumoured iPhone Air 2, which was expected to be based on the underlying hardware powering the iPhone 18 Pro, is now said to be delayed until 2027. The standard iPhone 18 is expected to release alongside the iPhone 18e in early 2027, thus making the September 2026 launch event a largely premium affair.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at everything the industry insider leaks have revealed about the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
1. A sleek yet uniform makeover
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is tipped to ditch the two-tone back panel of recent models for a seamless and uniform finish. This shift keeps the Pro’s signature broad edges but dials up the elegance, making it look like a high-end matte sculpture. Early renders from leakers like Ice Universe suggest it’ll feel premium without the visual clutter, which should be ideal for those who crave subtle class in a sea of flashy Android rivals.
2. Battery supremacy
To power next-gen AI tricks and longer hours of usage, the iPhone 18 Pro Max might pack on a few extra millimeters and grams, housing a significantly larger battery. Reports from 9to5Mac highlight this increase in dimensions, potentially pushing battery endurance past the iPhone 17’s already impressive scores.
3. Goodbye Dynamic Island
The pill-shaped notch on the iPhone’s display is shrinking next year, thanks to a slimmer front camera module. Apple’s clever interactive camera cutout could slim down noticeably, freeing up more screen real estate without going full under-display camera just yet. Apple is still tweaking the Face ID and camera tech for hole-punch dreams, but this resize promises a less intrusive interface.
4. A20 chip and C2 modem
Under the hood, the A20 processor on TSMC’s cutting-edge 2nm node is set to turbocharge everything from multitasking to AR workouts, with juiced-up CPU/GPU cores and efficiency gains that could squeeze extra hours from that beefier battery. Pair it with Apple’s homegrown C2 5G modem, and you could be looking at blazing fast downloads, solid mmWave in the US, and sippier power draws during peak streaming.
5. Variable aperture photography
While a fresh Samsung sensor is in testing for superior low-light capabilities and dynamic range, the real star is the main camera’s potential variable aperture. This adjustable iris mimics DSLR tricks, letting you fine-tune depth of field and exposure on the fly for strong bokeh or starry-night clarity. Refinements to the Camera Control button aim to trim costs without missing on the tactile joy of the button.
