iPhone 18 Pro: Nine reasons not to upgrade this year

Apple is set to unveil the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models on Wednesday, September 9, and the devices are expected to feature a largely similar design to the iPhone 17 Pro models, with many improvements inside. Major changes aren’t expected until next year, when Apple is expected to introduce a radically redesigned iPhone for the 20th anniversary.

If you’re considering trading in your current iPhone for this year’s latest, consider the following features expected to be available on next September’s iPhone 20 models (Apple is expected to skip the iPhone 19 for its commemorative edition). Taken together, they might just make you think.

• An all-glass design with four curvatures: The screen glass would curve around all four sides of the iPhone 20, concealing the metal frame during normal use for a borderless effect. Apple is reportedly working with Samsung on an “equal depth quadruple curvature” display to achieve this feat.
• Advanced OLED technology: Apple plans to use a brighter, thinner OLED panel for the 20th anniversary iPhone. Rumors suggest that Apple will adopt Samsung ‌OLED‌ displays with Color Filter on Encapsulation (COE) technology, which reduces the thickness of the overall display stack and lets in more light to improve brightness while reducing power consumption.
• Face ID and camera under the screen: Apple is reportedly continuing to test hardware that would eliminate the dynamic island – the visible cutout – from the front of the device, with Face ID components moving below the display and a display below the camera reportedly in development. It remains unclear whether the technology will be ready in time for a fall 2027 launch.
• Custom Apple Image Sensor: Apple is reportedly developing its own stacked image sensor to replace the Sony sensors traditionally used for the iPhone. Apple has already developed a working prototype. The sensor would use LOFIC technology, which would allow each pixel to store different amounts of light and potentially achieve up to 20 values ​​of dynamic range.
• Static buttons: Apple is reportedly testing haptic replacements for the side, volume, action, and camera control buttons. The buttons could be integrated directly into the frame of the device, without any actual physical movement when pressed, while still retaining tactile responsiveness.
• A 2 nanometer A21 chip: The 20th anniversary models are expected to feature a second-generation 2-nanometer chip. While the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models are widely expected to debut the A20 Pro chip, the anniversary models would likely be powered by the A21 Pro.
• Silicon anode battery: Apple is reportedly exploring new battery technology using a silicon anode capable of storing more lithium ions per gram, potentially providing longer life without increasing the physical size of the battery.
• High-bandwidth mobile memory: Apple is rumored to be evaluating vertically stacked DRAM technology to improve memory bandwidth and improve on-device AI performance.
• Two sizes: The two anniversary models could have a larger screen size compared to September’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which are expected to use 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays similar to the iPhone 17 Pro models. In contrast, Apple is reportedly prototyping a 6.4-inch screen for the iPhone 20 Pro and a 7-inch screen for the larger 20 Pro Max.

That said, we still have 12 months to go and Apple’s plans are constantly changing behind closed doors, and such ambitious features have a habit of slipping a year or two. Under-screen Face ID in particular has been “two years away” for about five years now.

Still, the combined leaks depict the most dramatic iPhone redesign since 2017, when the iPhone X debuted for the 10th anniversary. If even half of the features make it to the shipped device, the iPhone 20 should be worth the wait. For everything we know so far, check out our dedicated guide.