Leaks about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro are already circulating online, giving tech enthusiasts an early look at what could be one of the most significant upgrades in recent iPhone history. According to the latest reports, the iPhone 18 Pro series may feature major design changes, notable camera improvements, a powerful new chipset, and a traditional September 2026 launch.
Subtle Yet Impactful Design Changes
Early design leaks suggest that Apple could move Face ID under the display in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, eliminating the familiar pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout and making room for a smaller hole-punch front camera in the top-left corner. This change would result in a cleaner, more uninterrupted display compared with recent models while preserving a familiar overall aesthetic.
Despite this front-end redesign, the overall look of the iPhone 18 Pro family is expected to remain similar to the iPhone 17 Pro lineup, focusing more on refinement than a complete overhaul.
Bigger Camera Upgrades for Photography Enthusiasts
One of the most exciting rumors about the iPhone 18 Pro is the addition of a mechanical iris with variable aperture on at least one rear camera. This technology would allow the phone to adjust how much light enters the lens, offering more creative control over exposure and depth of field in different lighting conditions — a feature typically seen in high-end DSLR cameras.
A variable aperture could help improve low-light performance and provide greater flexibility for portrait or artistic photography. However, the real-world impact may still be constrained by the smaller image sensor sizes used in smartphones.
New A20 Pro Chipset for Performance & Efficiency
Perhaps the most significant upgrade under the hood will be the shift to Apple’s A20 Pro chipset, built on TSMC’s advanced 2nm manufacturing process. Rumors suggest that Apple will use Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging, which tightly integrates RAM with the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine. This integration could improve performance, reduce power consumption, boost efficiency for on-device AI tasks, and free up internal space for better thermal management or battery improvements.
This chipset upgrade should offer measurable speed and battery improvements compared with the A19 Pro expected in the iPhone 17 series.
Expected Launch Timeline
Apple is likely to follow its long-standing tradition of unveiling new iPhones in September 2026, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max leading the pack. Reports also indicate that the standard iPhone 18 models — including a more affordable iPhone 18 and possibly an iPhone 18e — may arrive in early 2027 as part of a staggered release strategy.
What These Leaks Could Mean for Buyers
The rumored changes in Apple’s flagship Pro lineup — including a cleaner front display with under-screen Face ID, variable aperture camera tech, and a cutting-edge chipset — suggest that Apple is shifting its focus toward both user experience and performance enhancements. Whether these features will be enough to entice users to upgrade from the iPhone 17 Pro depends on how much value buyers place on camera and chipset improvements.