The iPhone 18 Pro will launch later this year with these 10 new features

While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max won’t launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors circulating about the devices.

It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have Face ID entirely under the display, with only a front-facing camera visible in the upper left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors suggest that only one Face ID component will be moved below the device’s screen, resulting in a smaller Dynamic Island.

Below, we’ve rounded up 10 popular features for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of May 2026:

• Black cherry: The special color of the iPhone 18 Pro models would be Dark Cherry, alongside light blue, dark gray, and silver. The existing Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue colors are expected to be discontinued.
• Smaller dynamic island: The Face ID illuminator is rumored to be moved below the screen on the iPhone 18 Pro models, paving the way for a smaller dynamic island.
• LTPO+ displays: The upcoming Pro models are expected to have the same overall design as the iPhone 17 Pro models, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screen sizes and a “tray” housing three rear cameras. However, the screens would use so-called LTPO+ display technology, which should help extend battery life.
• Variable aperture: The 48-megapixel Fusion main camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models is rumored to have a variable aperture, allowing users to control how much light passes through the lens and reaches the sensor. This would allow better control of the depth of field. However, given that iPhones have smaller image sensors due to smartphone size constraints, it’s unclear how significant this improvement would be.
• A20 Pro chip: Apple’s next-generation A20 Pro chip is expected to use TSMC’s first-generation 2nm process, while the A19 Pro chip is 3nm. With a 2nm architecture and a new package design, the A20 Pro chip is expected to deliver strong performance and year-over-year gains in power efficiency.
• C2 modem: Apple’s custom C1 cellular modem for 5G and LTE debuted on the iPhone 16e last year, followed by a C1X chip on the iPhone Air. Apple claims that the C1X modem is up to twice as fast as the C1 modem and is the most energy-efficient modem ever in an iPhone. The improvements are expected to continue with Apple’s third-generation C2 modem in the iPhone 18 Pro models.
• 5G via satellite: With the C2 modem, the iPhone 18 Pro models would support 5G via satellite for web browsing without a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

• N2 chip: Most iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models feature an Apple-designed N1 chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Apple says the N1 chip also improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to feature Apple’s next-generation N2 chip, but it’s not yet clear what improvements this upgrade would bring.
• Simplified camera control: Apple is expected to simplify the camera control button on iPhone 18 Pro models, removing touch sensitivity and haptic feedback. The redesigned button will only have pressure sensitivity.
• Redesigned ceramic rear shield: The Ceramic Shield rear area for MagSafe would have a more frosted and transparent appearance on the iPhone 18 Pro models compared to the current two-tone design.

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone in September, followed by a standard iPhone 18 model, a low-end iPhone 18e, and a second-generation iPhone Air early next year.