Just a few days separate us from Apple's highly anticipated "Surprise and Shine" event on September 9th, where all eyes will be on the next generation of flagship phones: the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. While leaks suggest that the foldable phone might steal some of the spotlight this year, the Pro models remain the true heart of the matter for high-performance users and those who like to upgrade annually. Also new this year is that Apple may not unveil the standard iPhone 18 at the same event; reports indicate it will be delayed, along with the next generation of iPhone Air, until next spring, leaving the Pro models firmly in the center of attention.
Design and colors: Improvements in manufacturing and a distinctive red color.
Apple is not expected to make a radical redesign of the exterior this year; the iPhone 18 Pro will retain the same design language as the iPhone 17 Pro, including the aluminum frame and the wide camera bump that extends to the top. Instead, the Cupertino company has focused on refining the finer details and addressing some of the issues that arose in the previous generation.
The most notable improvements lie in the refining of manufacturing processes to overcome the color contrast between the aluminum frame and the glass back panel, resulting in a more harmonious and visually unified overall look. Regarding colors, leaked models suggest the addition of a crimson or deep burgundy hue, lending a distinctly luxurious feel to the series, while the classic black color is almost certainly absent, replaced by shades of dark gray, silver, and light blue.
The interactive island is finally getting smaller.
Since the launch of the interactive island with the iPhone 14 Pro, there have been no real changes in size or shape. It seems Apple is finally ready to take a step forward by moving some of the Face ID components directly under the OLED screen without affecting responsiveness or the usual security levels.
This geometric change will allow for a smaller interactive island on the screen, giving the user more display space at the top. While we haven't yet achieved complete concealment of the face unlock sensors under the screen, reducing the size of the punch-hole gives the Pro models a noticeable visual edge this year.
Thicker structure for a larger battery
The pursuit of thinness at the expense of battery capacity has always been a goal that most users dislike, and Apple seems well aware of this in this iteration. Reports indicate a slight increase in the thickness of the iPhone 18 Pro models, which will directly impact weight; the iPhone 18 Pro Max may weigh around 240 grams, compared to 233 grams for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The real benefit of this increase is providing space for a larger battery; rumors suggest that the iPhone 18 Pro will be equipped with a 4,288 mAh battery, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max will get a huge jump with a battery of up to 5,567 mAh compared to 5,088 mAh in the previous generation, promising exceptional battery life for heavy tasks.
A20 Pro processor with 2nm manufacturing process: A real leap in efficiency
The most notable internal hardware upgrade will be the A20 Pro processor, which is the first Apple phone processor to be manufactured using 2-nanometer technology via TSMC foundries, surpassing the 3-nanometer precision used in the previous A19 Pro processor.
This exceptional precision allows for a greater number of transistors to be packed into a smaller space, resulting in an overall performance improvement of between 15% and 18%, and an impressive leap in power efficiency of up to 30% under certain conditions. Working seamlessly with the operating system, this processor will be the fastest and most energy-efficient phone in the series' history.
Variable aperture and price predictions
The camera is always the main attraction in the Pro category, and this year may see the introduction of a mechanically variable aperture after years of rumors. Current phone cameras use a fixed aperture, while an adjustable aperture allows control over the amount of light reaching the sensor and natural control over depth of field (blur), giving professional photographers exceptional flexibility in different lighting conditions.
In contrast, forecasts indicate that the prices of iPhone 18 Pro phones may increase by approximately $100, with the Pro version starting in the United States at around $1,199, due to the rising costs of storage memory and advanced components. This increase may be inevitable after years of price stability for some categories.
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