iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

[MacRumors]

While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices.

Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026:

1. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras
2. Under-screen Face ID (rumored by multiple sources)
3. Front camera in top-left corner of the screen
4. Variable aperture for at least one rear camera
5. A20 Pro chip manufactured with TSMC's 2nm process and new packaging technology
6. A simplified Camera Control button with no swipe gestures
7. Design changes to the rear Ceramic Shield for MagSafe charging, potentially including a more frosted glass appearance
8. Apple-designed C1X or C2 modem for 5G/LTE cellular connectivity
9. Apple-designed N1 chip or newer for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread
10. Web browsing via satellite
11. New color options under consideration: burgundy, brown, or purple
12. iPhone 18 Pro Max may be slightly thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, perhaps to accommodate a larger battery

Apple will likely release the iPhone 18 Pro models in September. Bookmark our iPhone 18 roundup to stay on top of future rumors.

Article Link: iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

 

[840quadra]

Some of these items are really "Meh" overall to me. I would also be impressed to see all of these within a single release, as opposed to relying some to later phones as a lure to purchase them.

I guess time will tell!

 

[e1me5]

So nothing really.

 

[963852741]

Later this year = in 8 months and change. Ground breaking news.

 

[AppleWarMachine]

I'm in...really just due for my new iPhone every three years cycle (coming from 15 Pro)
But I won't hold my breath for the under-screen Face ID though

 

[Deacon-Blues]

Moving the camera to the side seems like a giant step down from a central camera, particularly for FaceTime sessions. Why?

 

[macjaffa]

Moving the camera to the side seems like a giant step down from a central camera, particularly for FaceTime sessions. Why?

Same reason they have decreased functional usability of everything else: see tahoe, ios26 liquid glass etc. Apple are lost just now and they dont know what they are doing

 

[code-m]

Why does the notch feel like it’s morphing from a hairline to a unibrow to an Indian Bindi that is off-center? What happened to design symmetry at Apple?

 

[Russell Ocean]

for me personally biggest thing is ProMotios in 13 pro max just mandatory, and second I like this little sprinkle of magic in 14 pro max with notch, aka Dynamic Island , but , now what? what a next big leap? I think is iphone 20th with edge to edge screen, for me , as person who use camera just for food in fatsecret and documents, 15-17 not a big deal

 

[963852741]

for me personally biggest thing is ProMotios in 13 pro max just mandatory, and second I like this little sprinkle of magic in 14 pro max with notch, aka Dynamic Island , but , now what? what a next big leap? I think is iphone 20th with edge to edge screen, for me , as person who use camera just for food in fatsecret and documents, 15-17 not a big deal

At this point you buy a phone and use it till it dies. No poit in wasting money for nothing. I'm Still on 14 pro Max and see no reason to upgrade.

 

[bigandtasty]

Moving the camera to the side seems like a giant step down from a central camera, particularly for FaceTime sessions. Why?

that's what I thought about camera bar and aluminum.

 

[t0rqx]

Please don't post iPhone 19/20 rumours until the iPhone 18 is released. Don't want to cancel my preorder for the 5th time.

 

[t0rqx]

Moving the camera to the side seems like a giant step down from a central camera, particularly for FaceTime sessions. Why?

All the core designers and engineers left. Thats why everything is messed up and quality is s*. Even Android phones from the budget section has better quality.

 

[Ja50n]

I’m very happy with my base 13. I do wish I had ProMotion and no notch, though.

 

[thefredelement]

I think a lot of people are going to pass on this with rumored of the 20th anniversary edition.

iPhone X was an exciting time, my favorites so far:

iPhone 5s
iPhone X

I have the 17 pro now, awesome camera and screen but I liked how the 15 pro felt in the hand, though it's super close, there was just something so nice about the 15.


I'm hoping the 20th anniversary edition is awesome.

 

[appleCakes]

13. +10-20% more expensive than 17 Pro because of memory cost surge.

 

[topmounter]

Meh... Tok... tok... tok.... tok... when is the next Tik?

 

[the 12th Doctor]

They aren’t going to abandoned Dynamic Island. Smoking the good stuff I see.

 

[ab2c4]

Most people should probably wait until next year for the Anniversary edition phone.

 

[Neeon]

Can’t wait to see how John Gruber will defend the corner camera cutout when he is so obsessive about alignment and symmetry on every other aspect of the hardware.

 

[devinher]

The current design is ugly as hell compared to my 15 Pro. Hope there's a change.

 

[Apple247]

Stop reading this list of "12 New Features" when #1 was "same overall design".

 

[ab2c4]

The current design is ugly as hell compared to my 15 Pro. Hope there's a change.

Actually its the same basic design since the 12 and they are all ugly except the Air which was a new model after all. Hopefully next year's phone will finally bring a new design.

 

[ChrisH3677]

How does "The same overall design is expected" make a list of "12 New Features"?? And number one at that!!!

I can barely contain my excitement for this unchanged design! Why don't all phones have this exciting new feature?? Apple leading the way again! Take my money!!!

 

[Parowdy]

12 new Features

Feature #1: looks the same

This wouldn’t even be ok if an AI had wrote it.