iPhone 18: Everything We Know About Apple’s Next Mobile Flagship

Key takeaways:

• Features: The Dynamic Island could shrink, the cameras could have a variable position and a bigger battery could be on the way.
• Colors: Apple may introduce burgundy, purple and brown variants.
• Amount: There have been no leaks regarding the price hike, which is good news for now.
• Release date: Apple is likely to split the launch of the iPhone 18 between September 2026 and February/March 2027.

We haven’t entered 2026 yet and there are already many rumors popping up about what Apple’s iPhone 18 lineup might look like. The iPhone 17 series has impressed us tremendously a full-featured base model,incredibly thin iPhone Air and boldly redesigned iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. We hope that this year’s program will surprise us too.

Apple is a year or so away from celebrating the 20th anniversary of the launch of the first iPhone. While the company sells more phones in the US than its Android rivals, Apple remains behind Samsung for global sales and surpasses Chinese phone makers such as Xiaomi. There’s a lot at stake for Apple with the next iPhone, as well as building interest in a programmable device, such as iPhone Fold rumors.

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

The latest rumours

iPhone 18 design differences

We hear that there will be three models: the base iPhone 18, the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. It can happen again iPhone models not in this series, like the second-generation Air or the much-rumored foldable iPhone. That would mean a total of six active iPhone models if you include the rumored 17E.

iPhone designs tend to stay the same from year to year and current rumors suggest that this trend will continue. The screen sizes of the three phones look the same as before — 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively — with minor design differences in the camera bumpers on the back. The Weibo tipster also seems to say that Apple’s lighting needs are more demanding, which may cause OLED supply problems. This leads some to suspect that it has a brighter screen.

The basic iPhone 18 is rumored to have a smaller camera compared to its predecessor, while the Pro and Pro Max will keep a wider “plain” to accommodate their three rear cameras.

According to a leak from Chinese social media site Weibo, the Pro model could get a “clear transparent finish” on the rear glass panel. A Chinese leaker is reported to have said that the iPhone 18 Pro could have a more unified design compared to the two-tone look it has now. Some rumors also suggest that it may have a heavier, thicker build. In addition, it may have three new colors: coffee, purple and burgundy. Coffee brown might seem like an odd color for a phone, but our Patrick Holland is open to the idea.

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

Information recently reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature under-screen Face ID, confirming a Bloomberg rumor. Additionally, the outlet also said that the front camera will be moved to the upper left corner of the screen and, as a result, will lose the Dynamic Island cutout.

Contrary to that claim, the account Ice Universe says that the Dynamic Island cutout on the iPhone 18 Pro models will remain, but instead will be “35% smaller” than on the current iPhone 17 Pro models. This has to do with how Dynamic Island looks by default; the area expands according to live activities or other information, such as the existing Dynamic Island. MacRumors suggests that the new iPhone will only have Face ID under the screen, which still requires the presence of Dynamic Island.

We tested the cameras under the display on several phones over the years. The display section in front of the camera has several screen elements and light wires, allowing the selfie camera to “see” the screen, much like looking through a window with the curtains open. While the concept of having a display with little or no cutouts is ideal, cameras with poor display often result in poor image quality. However, maybe Apple is the company that will finally figure out how to integrate a camera under the display that takes high-quality photos.

Beyond that, Bloomberg’s Gurman also cautions that the 18 Pro may be “underpowered,” saying it may have very minor tweaks. This is a bit of a departure from previous iPhone Pros, as the Pro was usually the premium version of the iPhone lineup.

Large battery for iPhone 18 Pro

After years of customer demand, Apple finally opted for a battery over a thin body on the iPhone 17 Pro. And that model continues to surprise us, coming out on top in Patrick Holland’s latest battery life comparison at 35 phones. We are curious to know if Apple will use the new one carbon silicon battery technology.

Based on a post on Chinese social media site Weibo, seen by 9to5Mac, the iPhone 18 Pro could pack a battery of more than 5,000 mAh — specifically, 5,000 mAh for models with a visible SIM card slot (as required in some countries) and 5,200 mAh for models that rely solely on ehi to fill the battery compartment.

New cameras on the iPhone 18

iPhone cameras are another feature that could get significant improvements in 2026. Macworld reports that Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro Max could get a camera with a variable aperture, similar to how lenses on DSLRs and mirrorless cameras work. This allows people greater control over depth of field and image brightness. Information also reported that at least one of the rear cameras on the 18 Pro will have a mechanical iris, another term for lens aperture.

We’ve seen foldable phone cameras that open the door before. The Galaxy S9 launched in 2018 with a mechanical dual-aperture lens on its main camera that can switch between f/1.5, which lets more light in and creates a shallower depth of field, and f/2.4, which sharpens the subject more. But the S9’s image sensor was smaller and the images from it were fine. 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 not take advantage of it. Sadly, to the dismay of CNET’s Andrew Lanxon, the company has removed the flexible port Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

Macworld also says that the telephoto lenses on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max can achieve a faster aperture, allowing more light to hit the sensor for better low-light shots. In addition, MacRumors reports that all iPhone 18 models (except the 18E) will be upgraded with 24-megapixel front-facing cameras for improved selfies. We should note that the iPhone 17 and Air series all have the new Apple Stage selfie camera, which has an 18-megapixel square 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 be pressure sensing for all Camera Control functions.

Updated chip specifications for A20 and iPhone 18

Since the iPhone 17 lineup 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 are said to use a new process called Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module, which integrates RAM directly on the same wafer as the CPU, GPU and neural engine. This obviously results in better efficiency and faster operation because everything will be available on the same chip.

We also hear that the iPhone 18 lineup could use Apple’s next-generation C2 modem chip to improve wireless connectivity. Additionally, Information reports that Apple is preparing to support 5G networks from satellites, which may give iPhone 18 models full satellite phone capabilities, not just emergency situations again sending messages.

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

Although this is not limited to the iPhone 18, Apple also recently announced that Google’s Gemini will use 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 many reportsApple’s smartphone release schedule may look 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 possible iPhone Air 2, on the other hand, could debut six months later in February or March 2027.

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