Gurman: iPhone 18 Pro Could Be Underwhelming

[MacRumors]

Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models "won't be a big update," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the iPhone 18 Pro models will "represent minor tweaks from last year's iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max." He compared the upgrade to Apple's past practice of appending the letter "S" to its more minor generational iPhone releases.

There will still apparently be several important internal changes, such as a new camera system with a variable aperture, the A20 chip, and the custom C2 modem. Nevertheless, the new Pro models likely won't be "the star of Apple's iPhone launch this fall," with the company's first foldable claiming the spotlight instead.

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Article Link: Gurman: iPhone 18 Pro Could Be Underwhelming

 

[HouseLannister]

Hot take, Gurman!

 

[mikethebigo]

I wonder if they’ll do any external design tweaks, like maybe rounding the edges more on the camera plateau to prevent scuffing. Otherwise, totally expected for it to be an “S” year after a big design change with the 17 Pro.

Would love to have a black model this year.

 

[zombierunner]

iPhone 18 will be like iPhone 8 that launched along side iPhone X. The foldable iPhone will be the main event.

 

[neuropsychguy]

In other words, this might not be a big update relative to the 17 Pro (what percent of iPhone users upgrade every year?). Anyone coming from a 15 or older iPhone is likely to see a substantial update.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

it can’t be nowhere near as bad as the jump from the X to XS?
To be honest I think the 20th anniversary edition iPhone XX will be more underwhelming if you ignore the bezel free rumors. Take that away and what would be better over the 18 Pros that will mostly have variable aperture?

 

[Kylo83]

To be honest every year is disappointing, with minor changes, I don’t call the redesigned back on the 17 pro anything major

 

[ThomasJL]

iPhones have been underwhelming for years, thanks to Tim Cook. The iPhone 18 Pro will likely have practically the same design as the iPhone 11 Pro, which has already been used for seven generations now. So a more honest name for the iPhone 18 Pro would be iPhone 11sssssss Pro.

 

[Nyx1]

More cores should be added to the CPU and GPU, but that won't happen because that's the way the company is.

 

[ChamomileTea]

What could it have to be "overwhelming".

Smartphones reached the final form. There's nothing they can do to blow people away! It's all about delta improvements now.

Even for foldables, most people don't care much about them and would only buy a foldable if they make them cheaper.

 

[ChamomileTea]

iPhones have been underwhelming for years, thanks to Tim Cook. The iPhone 18 Pro will likely have practically the same design as the iPhone 11 Pro, which has already been used for seven generations now. So a more honest name for the iPhone 18 Pro would be iPhone 11sssssss Pro.

So what matters is design so you tell your friends you have the latest one?

There's no design! It's a screen and the rest is settled.

 

[contacos]

Shine will be on the iPhone Fold this fall with the main factor for the regular Pro being new color options I guess

 

[Artemiz]

An iPhone releasing after a “major” redesign will just have minor tweaks?
Color me shocked, Gurman!

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

The phones are great. Move to a biennial release—a two year update schedule, add a third consumer and Pro iPhone size (5.7 inches), get rid of all other phones, thicken up the Pro and rename it Ultra to align with Apple Watch Ultra branding and plus-size battery life, perhaps take a cue from AWU aesthetics and build, get rid of sub-branding and numbers (mini, plus, max, 18, 19, 20) and maybe shave a mm off the thinness of iPhone (non-Ultra). Work on moving both lines to new battery chemistry.

iPhone (5.7, 6.3, 6.9) (one mm thinner than before)
iPhone Ultra (5.7, 6.3, 6.9) (cameras, a bit thicker; fat battery, pro chip, vapor chamber, bigger speakers)

Simplify branding to two models.

 

[Taq'aix]

Still rocking the 14 Pro 👌.

Not a day goes by where I feel the urge to upgrade to those cheap-ass ugly aluminum abominations.

 

[L92]

One thing for sure: it will remain ugly, because Apple won't touch the core design for at least 3 years.

 

[GIZBUG]

Underwhelming at a premium price….
Why even release it then? Wait a year and make it worthwhile for your customers

 

[Ultramove69]

Water is wet.

 

[xxray]

Move to a biennial release—a two year update schedule.

I never understand why people say this. How does technology getting upgraded more often affect you negatively? If you don’t need/want a phone, don’t buy it.

When you do unexpectedly need a phone, I’m sure you’ll be glad it’s 3 month old tech instead of 15 months old.

 

[maszaikasza]

Mark "Could" Gurman.

 

[maszaikasza]

I never understand why people say this. How does technology getting upgraded more often affect you negatively? If you don’t need/want a phone, don’t buy it.

When you do unexpectedly need a phone, I’m sure you’ll be glad it’s 3 month old tech instead of 15 months old.

Not my words, but forcing annual updates makes engineers spend time on stuff that doesn’t really matter, and that time could be used for more significant changes.

 

[klasma]

What could it have to be "overwhelming".

Last year’s camera plateau was pretty overwhelming.

 

[FloridaScrubJay]

I will stay with the 16 Pro for a few years longer. I now generally upgrade every 3-4 years as the phones have become a rather mature product.

 

[The Game 161]

Foldable iPhone will get all the attention that’s for sure

Apple will want you to buy that instead

 

[Artemiz]

One thing for sure: it will remain ugly, because Apple won't touch the core design for at least 3 years.

There will be a redesign next year