iPhone 18: Here’s what we know about Apple’s next flagship phone

Main takeaways:

• Features: The Dynamic Island could be smaller and the cameras might have a variable aperture, plus there are rumors of a larger battery. However, some components may be downgraded due to lack of memory components.
• colors: Apple could launch red, burgundy, purple and brown versions or variants of it.
• price: There have been no leaks about the price increase, which is good news at this stage.
• release date: Apple may split the iPhone 18 launch between fall 2026 and spring 2027.

Apple’s next iPhone could be built on shifting sands even as we head into the fall, when its new phones are traditionally announced. the iPhone 17 A series we surprisingly liked Basic model packed with featuresIncredibly skinny iPhone AirBoldly redesigned iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max And entry level iPhone 17e. We hope the iPhone 18 lineup will surprise us as well.

The company is only a year or so away from its 20th anniversary Original iPhone launch. While the company sells more phones in the United States than its competitor Android phonesApple consistently lags behind Samsung in global sales and is right ahead of Chinese phone makers like Xiaomi. There’s a lot at stake for Apple with the next iPhone, including increased interest in a potential foldable device, like the iPhone iPhone Fold rumored.

Already, some of the hottest rumors include a shrinking Dynamic Island, along with the possibility that the iPhone 18 and 18 Pro will have the same RAM as the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Also, there are rumors that Apple may split the launch of its iPhone 18 lineup, with premium models debuting this year and more entry-level models launching next year. Here’s a look at all the rumors and leaks we’ve uncovered about the potential iPhone 18 series.

Latest rumours

iPhone 18 design differences

We hear there will likely be three models: the basic iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max. There may be too iPhone models Not in this series, like the second-generation Air or the much-rumored foldable iPhone. This could mean a total of six iPhone models in the works if you include the rumored 18E as well.

iPhone designs tend to stay the same year after year, and current rumors indicate that this trend will continue. The screen sizes of the three phones appear to be the same as before – 6.3 and 6.9 inches respectively – with slight design differences in the camera notches on the back. A Weibo tip It also seems to indicate that Apple’s brightness requirements are incredibly demanding, which could lead to OLED supply issues. This leads some to suspect that it has a brighter screen.

The base iPhone 18 is rumored to have a smaller camera notch compared to its predecessor, while the Pro and Pro Max will retain the wider ‘plateau’ to accommodate the three rear cameras.

According to a leak from Chinese social media site Weibo, the Pro model could get a “micro transparent finish” on the rear glass panel. A Chinese leaker The iPhone 18 Pro could reportedly have a more unified design versus the two-tone look it has now. Some rumours It also suggests that it could have a heavier and thicker body.

It may also come Three new colours: Coffee, purple and burgundy. Coffee brown may seem like a strange choice for a phone color, however Our own Patrick Holland is open to the concept. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg It suggests that Apple may also be considering a deep red color for its iPhone 18 lineup. However, as he points out, it’s possible that dark red, burgundy, lilac, and coffee brown are all variations of the same red color idea. It could just be one of these colors that makes it into production.

Other rumors suggest that changes may be coming to Dynamic Island on iPhone. Gourmet And a Weibo user Digital chat station It suggests that Apple may reduce the size of the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 models. This may result in a small hole in the camera, where the Face ID sensors may be located below the screen.

Information It was also recently reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature Face ID under the display, confirming the Bloomberg rumour. Additionally, the outlet also said that the front camera will be moved to the top-left corner of the screen, and as a result, it will lose the Dynamic Island slot.

Contrary to this claim, the X Ice Universe account claims that the Dynamic Island notch on the iPhone 18 Pro models will remain, but will instead be “roughly 35% narrower” than it is on the current iPhone 17 Pro models. This is in relation to what the dynamic island looks like by default; The area expands based on live activities or other information, just like an existing dynamic island. MacRumors reports that the new iPhone will only have Face ID partially below the screen, which still requires a dynamic island.

There is other evidence to support Dynamic Island’s shrinking claim Recently leaked photos From X account @earlyappleleaks. The images show what appears to be an iPhone 18 Pro prototype with a much smaller Dynamic Island cutout. Likewise, X Ice Universe account shared an image of what it claims is an iPhone 18 Pro screen protector. A much smaller dynamic island is also shown.

We tested the under-display cameras On many phones over the years. The part in front of the camera features fewer screen elements and transparent wires, allowing the selfie camera to “see through” the screen, just like looking through a window with open curtains. While the idea of ​​a screen with minimal to no cutouts is a worthwhile idea, cameras below the screen usually result in poor image quality images. However, Apple may be the company that will finally figure out how to integrate an under-display camera that takes high-quality photos.

Otherwise, Bloomberg’s Gorman also warns that the 18 Pro could be “disappointing,” noting that it could only have very minor tweaks. This is a slight difference from previous iPhone Pros, where the Pro was usually the most premium version in the iPhone lineup.

Bigger battery for iPhone 18 Pro

After years of customers asking, Apple has finally chosen battery over body thinness in the iPhone 17 Pro. And this model continues to surprise us, ranking first in Patrick Holland’s recent battery life comparison 35 Tel. We’re particularly interested to see if Apple will adopt new products Silicon-carbon battery technology.

Based on a mail On the Chinese social media site Weibo, I spotted him 9to5Macthe iPhone 18 Pro could include a battery with a capacity of more than 5,000 mAh – specifically, 5,000 mAh for models with a physical SIM slot (as required in some countries) and 5,200 mAh for models that rely solely on eSIM (which gives up more internal space that can be filled with more battery).

Another post from the leaker’s account ApplesClubs He confirms this claim, noting that the iPhone 18 Pro has better battery life than the 17 Pro.

New cameras in iPhone 18

iPhone cameras are another feature that may receive a major upgrade in 2026. Macworld Reports This leaker weibo Digital chat station He said the iPhone 18 Pro Max could get a variable aperture camera, similar to how lenses in DSLRs and mirrorless cameras work. This gives people greater control over depth of field and image brightness. The information also stated that at least one rear camera on the 18 Pro will have a mechanical iris, which is another name for the lens aperture.

We’ve seen variable aperture phone cameras before. the Galaxy S9 It launched in 2018 with a dual-aperture mechanical lens on its main camera that can switch between f1.5, allowing more light in and creating a lower depth of field, and f2.4, which increases subject clarity. But the S9’s image sensor was small, and photos from it were quite good. Xiaomi had a variable aperture, between f1.9 and f4.0, in 2023 13 Ultra And 2024 14 Ultrabut each had a large 1-inch sensor that it could take advantage of. Unfortunately, to the frustration of CNET’s Andrew Lanxon, the company has removed the variable aperture from Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

Macworld also says the telephoto lenses on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could get a faster aperture, allowing more light to hit the sensor for better low-light shots. In addition, MacRumors Reports indicate that all iPhone 18 models (except the 18E) will get improved 24-megapixel front cameras for better selfies. It’s worth noting that the iPhone 17 and Air series all feature Apple’s new Center Stage selfie camera, which has an 18-megapixel square sensor and can take horizontal or vertical photos, regardless of which way you hold the phones.

There too Some speculation It can simplify the iPhone’s camera control button. Instead of capacitance and pressure sensors, it may just be a pressure sensor for all the camera control functions.

Updated A20 chip and iPhone 18 specifications

Since the iPhone 17 lineup uses the A19 and A19 Pro chips, it makes sense that the upcoming iPhone 18 will use Apple chips. New A20 processor. The rumored chips are said to use a new process called the Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module, which integrates RAM directly into the same chip as the CPU, GPU and neural engine. This seems to lead to better efficiency and faster performance because everything will be located on the same chip.

We’re also hearing that the iPhone 18 lineup could use Apple’s next-generation C2 modem chip to improve wireless connectivity. In addition, Information Apple is reportedly preparing to support 5G satellite networks, which could give the iPhone 18 models full satellite phone capabilities, and not only Emergency situations and Text messages.

He said that recently Popular on Weibo It indicates that the iPhone 18 specifications could be “downgraded” to be closer to the iPhone 18E model. This can also be more focused on reducing production costs on the back end.

MacRumors It was 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, As Apple recently announced Google’s Gemini will launch 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 multiple reportsApple’s smartphone release timeline may look different in the coming years.

Bloomberg It was reported that Apple plans to release the more expensive iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its new foldable device in the fall of 2026, while the less expensive iPhone 18 and iPhone 18E (and potentially the iPhone Air 2) could debut six months later in February or March 2027.

Given that Apple will release the iPhone 16E and 17E in the spring of 2025 and 2026, this is not a surprising development. However, this means that if you’ve been waiting to get your hands on an affordable iPhone, you may have to wait until next year to plan your purchase.