Are you one of the many who did not fancy standing in a queue outside the Apple Stores this year? Are you the one who did not fancy going for the much-hyped Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro and its bold new design refresh? Are you willing to hold out for the next-gen iPhone, hopeful to see more meaningful changes to what is assumed to be the iPhone 18 Pro? There’s good news for you.
The rumour mill for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models has already begun churning, with early hints and whispers pointing to a series of subtle but meaningful design and feature upgrades. Although the launch is still a year away, and there’s a lot of potential for changes to be implemented before Apple finalises the currently rumoured upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro models, it is fun to take a glimpse at what Apple could have in store for us.
iPhone 18 Pro: Why it is worth waiting for over iPhone 17 Pro
One of the most notable rumours circulating on the internet is the change to the Dynamic Island, which first came out in 2022’s iPhone 14 Pro. The Dynamic Island replaced the dated notch implementation and offered a tidy presentation of the front camera and other sensors. Apple is now said to make changes here, giving the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max a slightly smaller Dynamic Island.
That said, the rumoured under-display Face ID tech is now expected to arrive on the iPhone 19 Pro in 2027, flaunting only the selfie camera as a punch-hole cutout.
In terms of design, a reliable tipster suggests that the iPhone 18 Pro will largely maintain the aesthetic of its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro. This includes a similar rear camera system layout and the same display sizes. However, a new design element rumoured for the back of the device is the Ceramic Shield area, possibly featuring a ‘slightly transparent design,’ a stylistic change that would be a first for the iPhone lineup.
Other key upgrades planned for iPhone 18 Pro include
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims the main 48MP Fusion camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models will introduce variable aperture technology. This feature, which debuted years ago on the Samsung Galaxy S9 series in 2018, would allow users to manually control the amount of light entering the lens. This would offer photographers greater control over exposure and depth of field, bringing professional-level camera functionality to the iPhone.
Other rumoured upgrades include the introduction of a beefier A20 Pro chip, which is expected to be fabricated using TSMC’s next-gen 2nm process. This is likely to promise significant performance and efficiency gains. Additionally, the new models may feature Apple’s custom-designed C2 modem with enhanced mmWave 5G support, which could translate to better battery life.
A redesigned, pressure-sensitive Camera Control button with more tactile feedback could be another welcome change in the Pro lineup. This should make the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max more resistant to water and dust damage.
