iPhone 18 Pro Already Rumored to Have These 6 New Features

[MacRumors]

While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still nearly a year away, a handful of new features and changes have already been rumored for the devices.

Below, we have recapped some of the early iPhone 18 Pro rumors so far.

Smaller Dynamic Island

The standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with a slightly smaller Dynamic Island, but the devices will not feature under-screen Face ID, according to the Weibo account Instant Digital.

There were conflicting rumors about whether the iPhone 17 Pro models would have a smaller Dynamic Island, but its size did not change. Now, the rumor is back on the table for the iPhone 18 series, and there is a decent chance it will be true this time around, as it would be a stepping stone towards the rumored 20th-anniversary all-glass iPhone.

Under-screen Face ID, however, is no longer expected until the iPhone 19 Pro models or later.

Instant Digital has around 1.5 million followers on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. The account has accurately leaked information about future Apple products in the past, such as the iPhone 17 Pro models featuring a vapor chamber cooling system, the Yellow finish for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2's Titanium Milanese Loop. However, the account does not have a perfect track record, and some of the other iPhone 17 rumors it shared in recent months did not materialize.

'Translucent' MagSafe Area

Overall, the iPhone 18 Pro models will feature a similar design as the iPhone 17 Pro models, according to Digital Chat Station, a previously-accurate leaker with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

The leaker said the devices will have the same rear camera system design as the iPhone 17 Pro models, with a "plateau" housing three lenses in a triangular arrangement. They also expect the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes used since the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Notably, the leaker claimed that the Ceramic Shield area on the back of the iPhone 18 Pro models will feature a "slightly transparent design," without elaborating.

Perhaps this just means the Ceramic Shield cutout on the back of the iPhone 18 Pro models will have a more frosted appearance than it does on the iPhone 17 Pro models, but we will have to wait for additional rumors to surface for clarification.

Variable Aperture

The main 48-megapixel Fusion camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

With variable aperture, users would be able to control the amount of light that passes through the camera's lens and reaches the sensor. The main cameras on all of the iPhone 14 Pro through iPhone 17 Pro models have a fixed aperture of ƒ/1.78, and the lens is always fully open and shooting with this widest aperture. With the iPhone 18 Pro models, users would be able to manually change the aperture, according to this rumor.

A variable aperture on iPhone 18 Pro models should provide users with greater control over depth of field, which refers to how sharp a subject appears in the foreground compared to the background. However, given that iPhones have smaller image sensors due to size constraints, it is unclear exactly how meaningful this improvement would be.

None of the iPhone 17 Pro cameras offer variable aperture.

Other Rumors

• A20 Pro chip fabricated with TSMC's latest 2nm process, for more significant year-over-year performance improvements
• Apple's custom-designed C2 modem, with mmWave 5G support in the United States
• A redesigned Camera Control button, with a focus on pressure-sensitive controls, rather than swipe gestures

Read our iPhone 18 roundup for more information.

Article Link: iPhone 18 Pro Already Rumored to Have These 6 New Features

 

[Marty80]

The iPhone 18 is a sleeper or the infamous year of the ‘S’. I might be interested in updating my 17 pro max to the anniversary model, only if any design changes are to be made.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

I don't care about a smaller island. Give me one that's not as low as current gen

 

[BelgianChoklit]

Oh darn… can’t say "cancelled my 17 Pro preorder" anymore

 

[indychris]

I’d love a 15PM with an operating system that worked well even more…

 

[Chiromac81]

Ho hum

 

[N2PVP]

Just stop with the camera bump and make the phone one thickness. I am ok with an overall thicker phone.

 

[ghostface147]

Just stop with the camera bump and make the phone one thickness. I am ok with an overall thicker phone.

People already complain about the weight of some iPhone models, imagine the complaints of a thicker phone with a heavier battery. It’s amazing what some grams will do for some.

 

[now i see it]

There will never be an all glass iPhone. Not possible.
Rumors can be just made up skylarking sometimes - and this is one example.

 

[Downundermac]

Tech has plateaued and people are wanting to use their screens less. It’s 2025, so if nothing else just give us stable OS’ and products please Apple.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Tech has plateaued and people are wanting to use their screens less. It’s 2025, so if nothing else just give us stable OS’ and products please Apple.

I agree -- give us a smaller phone also, that will encourage less endless usage.

 

[bLackjackj]

The iPhone 18 is a sleeper or the infamous year of the ‘S’.

Nope, that would be the phone you’ve just purchased. The 17 has really been an ‘S’ year.

 

[Astrohunter]

I agree -- give us a smaller phone also, that will encourage less endless usage.

That’s not very profitable for them lol.

 

[turbineseaplane]

That’s not very profitable for them lol.

Just trying to sneak it in real quick ... LOL
😝

 

[tridley68]

This will be nice for my yearly upgrade could care less about face id Don't use and never will 😎

 

[newyorksole]

Nope, that would be the phone you’ve just purchased. The 17 has really been an ‘S’ year.

not at all lol. they finally did a redesign this year and the upgrades internal and external are a decent step up from the 16 Pro.

if anything the 15 or 16 were the S year. one of them.

People already complain about the weight of some iPhone models, imagine the complaints of a thicker phone with a heavier battery. It’s amazing what some grams will do for some.

the weight of the Pro Max has never bothered me to this day. same with the weight of the AirPods Max.

I would be totally ok with a heavier iPhone that is flat on the back.

 

[golfnut1982]

Reviews seem to love the titanium iPhone Air for feel and durability. Wonder if they will bring on a titanium refresh with the vapor chamber or another heat dissipation trick? Aluminum seems to get damaged pretty easily...2027 is the 20th Anniversary iPhone or iPhone 19 if the naming is the same.

 

[Saturn1217]

I would be curious if Apple will respond in any way to these durability concerns for the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max. I'm still not sure myself if they are overblown or real. But there is definitely a widespread public perception that there is a durability issue with this phone that wasn't there before, and Apple marketed these phones as being MORE durable (ceramic shield etc) so I feel like they're going to want to respond to that in some way. The same way they responded to iPhone 6 plus bendgate. Could bending be avoided by simply not sitting on your phone? Of course. But Apple still updated the 6s to make sure that concern was addressed for consumers. I expect to see a similar adjustment here.

 

[Phaseangle]

I can't wait for the C3 Plus Other radios chip in the iPhone 19

 

[Yourbigpalal83]

Next year its the fold or noting for me!