The MacRumors Show: Latest iPhone 18 Pro Leaks and Rumors

[MacRumors]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the latest leaks and rumors surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos​

Tata Electronics, one of Apple's manufacturing partners in India, was hit by a ransomware attack that resulted in more than 200,000 internal files being posted online, including component lists, supplier data, and images of iPhone 18 Pro test units. The material was obtained illegally, and MacRumors has not seen the stolen files directly.

Among the leak's more surprising details is that the C2 modem may be limited to international models, succeeding the C1 and C1X modems already used in the iPhone Air, iPhone 17e, and M5 iPad Pro. A bill of materials for the U.S. variant instead lists Qualcomm components, including the SDX80M and other parts associated with mmWave 5G, a feature Apple's C-series modems still lack. U.S. carriers have spent years building out mmWave networks, making it a harder feature to drop from the Pro lineup than it was from the iPad Pro or a rumored cellular MacBook.

The leak also lined up with existing rumors of a more uniform rear finish than the iPhone 17 Pro's two-tone design and camera lenses that protrude further from the plateau. Separately, a leaked SIM tray offered another look at the rumored Dark Cherry color option, expected to join Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver as this year's lineup, with no black model.

On the camera side, the rumored variable aperture main camera is this year's headline upgrade, though it's unclear how much of a real-world difference it will make compared to genuinely transformative jumps in past generations, like the 8x telephoto lens introduced on the iPhone 17 Pro or the and 48-megapixel sensor from the iPhone 14 Pro.

Pricing looms over rumors about the device. Apple has now raised prices across much of its lineup, citing a global memory chip shortage driven largely by AI data center demand. The Apple TV and HomePod price hikes drew particular criticism, since both products are several years old with no accompanying hardware changes.

Estimates for the iPhone 18 Pro itself point to a starting price as high as $1,399, up from $1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro, an increase weighed against a modest RAM and battery bump, a smaller Dynamic Island, and a more capable N2 chip. A rumored 5G-via-satellite feature will likely offer limited access to specific services like Siri or Maps rather than full Safari browsing.

Micron's chief business officer suggested that Apple's own aggressive supplier negotiating tactics may have contributed to the memory shortage now driving prices up industry-wide. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!​

You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player.

​

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about potential price rises for the iPhone 18 lineup following Apple's wave of hikes yesterday, as well as plans for the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and camera-equipped AirPods.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser,... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Latest iPhone 18 Pro Leaks and Rumors

 

[GucciBeltReceipt]

Good episode. Loved Hartley's rant about Tim Cook always saying the "Best iPhone we've ever made", makes me laugh every time he says that.

 

[Yr Blues]

Keeps getting uglier and uglier.

 

[71Games]

Quick online check for Apple profits for 2026:
"In the fiscal second quarter of 2026, Apple reported a net profit of $29.6 billion, with a diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.01. This quarter's revenue reached $111.2 billion, marking a 17% increase year over year. The strong performance was driven by record demand for iPhone and services, contributing to a significant operating cash flow of over $28 billion."

Price rises seem given, warning lights flashing all over the internet. Where's a customer in it?

 

[snipr125]

So glad i upgraded all my Apple tech before these price increases!

 

[thadoggfather]

Interesting I didn’t know c1x in iPad Pro m5 drops mmWave because I haven’t been follow iPad iterations all that closely in recent times

In a sense my cellular iPad Pro m4 Qualcomm I got at the start of the year is better even though less power efficient… I had to go m4 though for nano 1tb / 16gb and cellular at like half of msrp

 

[boswald]

While I'm glad I bought my MacBook Air before the price hikes, I'm dreading the next time I upgade my iPhone.

Also, great episode. Loved Hartley's little rant about Tim's marketing!

 

[MarkNewton2023]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the latest leaks and rumors surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos​

Tata Electronics, one of Apple's manufacturing partners in India, was hit by a ransomware attack that resulted in more than 200,000 internal files being posted online, including component lists, supplier data, and images of iPhone 18 Pro test units. The material was obtained illegally, and MacRumors has not seen the stolen files directly.

Among the leak's more surprising details is that the C2 modem may be limited to international models, succeeding the C1 and C1X modems already used in the iPhone Air, iPhone 17e, and M5 iPad Pro. A bill of materials for the U.S. variant instead lists Qualcomm components, including the SDX80M and other parts associated with mmWave 5G, a feature Apple's C-series modems still lack. U.S. carriers have spent years building out mmWave networks, making it a harder feature to drop from the Pro lineup than it was from the iPad Pro or a rumored cellular MacBook.

The leak also lined up with existing rumors of a more uniform rear finish than the iPhone 17 Pro's two-tone design and camera lenses that protrude further from the plateau. Separately, a leaked SIM tray offered another look at the rumored Dark Cherry color option, expected to join Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver as this year's lineup, with no black model.

On the camera side, the rumored variable aperture main camera is this year's headline upgrade, though it's unclear how much of a real-world difference it will make compared to genuinely transformative jumps in past generations, like the 8x telephoto lens introduced on the iPhone 17 Pro or the and 48-megapixel sensor from the iPhone 14 Pro.

Pricing looms over rumors about the device. Apple has now raised prices across much of its lineup, citing a global memory chip shortage driven largely by AI data center demand. The Apple TV and HomePod price hikes drew particular criticism, since both products are several years old with no accompanying hardware changes.

Estimates for the iPhone 18 Pro itself point to a starting price as high as $1,399, up from $1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro, an increase weighed against a modest RAM and battery bump, a smaller Dynamic Island, and a more capable N2 chip. A rumored 5G-via-satellite feature will likely offer limited access to specific services like Siri or Maps rather than full Safari browsing.

Micron's chief business officer suggested that Apple's own aggressive supplier negotiating tactics may have contributed to the memory shortage now driving prices up industry-wide. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!​

You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player.

​

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about potential price rises for the iPhone 18 lineup following Apple's wave of hikes yesterday, as well as plans for the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and camera-equipped AirPods.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser,... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Latest iPhone 18 Pro Leaks and Rumors

I disagree with rant on Tim Cook’s comment of “Best iPhone we've ever made” . Tim Cook’s comment was always right whenever a new iPhone is introduced. Every year, despite minor updates from last year iPhone, the newest update does make newer iPhone better than previous one technology wise, so it is accurate to say “ Best iPhone we've ever made“ on that launch date compared to previous releases.

 

[Yr Blues]

This is the newest iPhone we ever made. 😆

 

[Phone Junky]

I just picked up an iPhone 17 Pro. Go ahead Apple, raise the prices on the 18's.

 

[eifelbube]

Good episode. Loved Hartley's rant about Tim Cook always saying the "Best iPhone we've ever made", makes me laugh every time he says that.

He would not have continued with that line. If he had still been CEO coming October, he would have concluded the introduction of iPhone Ultra with “ This is the most foldable iPhone we’ve ever made”.

 

[Piggie]

Good episode. Loved Hartley's rant about Tim Cook always saying the "Best iPhone we've ever made", makes me laugh every time he says that.

Indeed it's about as stupid a thing as what the media do when there is a terrible event, perhaps a device that went BANG in a crowded shopping centre.

The news outlets ram a microphone into the face of some official and ask for their statement.

It's such a stupid and pointless thing to do, I mean what do they expect them to say "Wow, that was the most impressive BANG I've ever heard" ?

That's as much likely to be said as Tim saying "This isn't the best iPhone we've ever made"
Sometimes, certain things should just be assumed.

I mean, why not also say everyone involved in making our newest model is a Human and almost every one of them had 2 legs

 

[The Game 161]

pricing will certainly be a big talking point thats for sure

 

[JM]

Looking forward to listening to this one after reading comments about the rant, haha.

So, haven’t leaks in the past made things doom and gloom, but then the event hits and people are pleasantly surprised when things aren't as bad as what the leaks projected?

- “$300 increase expected”
(event happens)
- “Only $100 more!”
(Hooray say the people!)

 

[fatTribble]

Camera upgrades are a main incentive to upgrade for me. I’m definitely interested to see how Apple explains and demonstrates the benefits of the variable aperture lens. I hope it’s more than just an improved bokeh effect.

 

[ThomasJL]

Separately, a leaked SIM tray offered another look at the rumored Dark Cherry color option, expected to join Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver as this year's lineup, with no black model.

It’s good to hear that at least some countries will get models with a SIM tray. A SIM tray is important for customers to travel to any of the many countries where eSIM is not used or is not common.

Tim Cook has insatiable corporate greed, and one example of that is how he wants to remove the SIM tray in order to save money and not pass those savings down to customers in order to maximize profits. He doesn’t care one bit that removing the SIM tray is a major inconvenience for many iPhone customers who travel.

 

[rbbloom99]

"The iPhone 17 is Apple's most popular iPhone lineup ever, with sales growth significantly outpacing previous models, particularly in China. It accounted for a substantial share of global smartphone sales in early 2026." macrumors

This 30% price increase will dramatically slow down Apple iphone sales, at lease in the short term. (One to 2 years)

Everyone assumes Samsung and others will increase their prices 30% on all new models but they could take this opportunity to increase your market share.

 

[rbbloom99]

It’s good to hear that at least some countries will get models with a SIM tray. A SIM tray is important for customers to travel to any of the many countries where eSIM is not used or is not common.

I purchased my 17e in Thailand specifically to get the sim tray. I travel through Asis and find it important to be able to switch sims for the day when I enter a new country. Sometimes 4 countries in 6 days.

Note for all those esim devotees whos say it's no problem to switch from esim to esim on the flY: you haven't traveled through Asia much if ever. 🙂

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Indeed it's about as stupid a thing as what the media do when there is a terrible event, perhaps a device that went BANG in a crowded shopping centre.

The news outlets ram a microphone into the face of some official and ask for their statement.

There, the biggest annoyance is that the reporter rarely asks eyewitnesses "What did you see and hear?", but rather "What do you FEEL about what just happened?"

 

[Steves Padawan]

I hope for 1" camera sensor, we need more details in photos

 

[unkl bob]

31:15
I literally cannot remember what I used before the Apple TV (4G).
I just tried...

 

[Elwe]

Price rises seem given, warning lights flashing all over the internet. Where's a customer in it?

People will complain. But the majority of them will continue to pay, given what they determine to be the alternatives. What will inevitably happen is that some percentage of people who would have purchased the 18 Pro will instead purchase the 17 Pro; or the 18; or go into more debt by financing more for longer. Or even just hold on to what they have for another year . . . still sending Apple money for services and support. In each case, Apple still “wins”. Very few people in percentage terms are angry enough to leave the ecosystem. And those who do are going to find equivalent flagship phones about as expensive elsewhere.

To me, the iPhone 17 is a solid,
premium-ish choice for many people that will still feel quite usable in three or four years. Several of the carriers are giving good deals on it, too. It appears the biggest negative is that the best upcoming on device models will not work on it; but no one really knows yet how much more useful they will be. But at about half the cost of a rumored 18 Pro, it should be given a good look as an alternative.

 

[nateo200]

I purchased my 17e in Thailand specifically to get the sim tray. I travel through Asis and find it important to be able to switch sims for the day when I enter a new country. Sometimes 4 countries in 6 days.

Note for all those esim devotees whos say it's no problem to switch from esim to esim on the flY: you haven't traveled through Asia much if ever. 🙂

What carrier do you use natively where you live? That model doesn’t have n71 I just looked so T-Mobile US coverage or certain Canadian carriers might be rough. It’s dumb you have to do this tho. I got my 17 Pro Max through T-Mobile here…kinda wish I got a model from elsewhere…don’t care about mmWave at all because even if you are in an area with it you still benefit because mmWave devices give more bandwidth to non mmWave devices anyways.

 

[-BigMac-]

Quick online check for Apple profits for 2026:
"In the fiscal second quarter of 2026, Apple reported a net profit of $29.6 billion, with a diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.01. This quarter's revenue reached $111.2 billion, marking a 17% increase year over year. The strong performance was driven by record demand for iPhone and services, contributing to a significant operating cash flow of over $28 billion."

Price rises seem given, warning lights flashing all over the internet. Where's a customer in it?

17% increase year over year, you say?
It’s givinggg - time to bump all our Mac prices🤓

 

[dankron]

as long as they bring the black iPhone pro again I couldn't care less what other colours they make them...