The countdown to the iPhone 18 Pro launch is underway. With just over a month until the official unveiling, leaks and analyst reports are piling up, all pointing to a generation of significant changes, as well as a possible price increase that could be the highest in the history of the Pro line. The Cupertino company hasn't confirmed anything, but the buzz surrounding its upcoming flagship phones is growing increasingly intense.
In this article, we'll review everything we know so far about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max : from the design and screen to the processor, cameras, battery, and, of course, the prices. All the information below comes from leaks and analyses by specialized media outlets, so it should be taken with a grain of salt until Apple makes the official announcement.
A price that could give you quite a shock
The question on the minds of prospective buyers is how much the new iPhone 18 Pro will cost. After Apple raised prices on Macs and iPads last June, many fear the iPhone will be next. Analysts have been debating this for months, and the figures they're working with are anything but reassuring.
GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu is the latest to weigh in, and he's offered the highest price increase we've seen so far: the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could cost between $250 and $300 more than their current counterparts. This would put the starting price of the iPhone 18 Pro at around $1.349-$1.399, and the Pro Max at $1.449-$1.499. According to Pu, the reason lies in the rising cost of 2-nanometer processors and RAM, as well as the component shortages affecting the entire industry.
This isn't the first time a price increase of this magnitude has been discussed. A month ago, IDC released its own estimate, predicting up to a $200 increase for the Pro models. The Wall Street Journal, for its part, even suggested a scenario of $1.399 for the base model. And Applesfera had its own estimate placing the iPhone 18 Pro at around €1.459 and the Pro Max close to €1.599. Jeff Pu's figure falls within that same range of figures that have been circulating for weeks.
However, not all analysts are so pessimistic. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg predicts a more moderate increase of between $100 and $200, similar to the adjustment seen in the Mac lineup. And analysts at JP Morgan are confident that Apple will manage to reduce the cost of other components in the supply chain to soften the blow on consumers' wallets. What is clear is that the price is the great mystery of this generation , and it won't be solved until Tim Cook and his team take the stage.
The design: continuity with slight variations
As for the design, no radical changes are expected. The iPhone 18 Pro will maintain the aesthetic introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro, featuring an aluminum and glass structure and a rectangular camera module in the upper left corner. However, the module is expected to be slightly larger to accommodate the new sensors, and the glass back is expected to exhibit less color distortion compared to the aluminum body.
Regarding colors, leaks suggest the arrival of two new shades: a sky blue and a burgundy or dark purple. The classic silver will remain available, and the return of black is also expected. The orange that was so popular in China will disappear from the lineup. The bezels will also be slightly reduced , allowing for better use of the front without increasing the device's size.
Screen: The Dynamic Island gets smaller
The screen is another area that will see changes, though not in terms of size. The iPhone 18 Pro will retain a 6,3-inch LTPO OLED panel, while the Pro Max will continue with a 6,9-inch display. Both will maintain the adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The major change will be in the Dynamic Island, which could be reduced in size by approximately 25%.
According to leaks, Apple has managed to miniaturize some of the Face ID sensors and place them under the screen, allowing for a smaller notch on the front. This change would not only improve the device's aesthetics but also provide more usable screen space for watching videos, playing games, or working with apps. It's another step toward the goal of integrating all sensors under the display, something that could happen in future generations.
Processor and memory: the leap to 2 nanometers
Under the hood, the iPhone 18 Pro will house the new A20 Pro chip, manufactured by TSMC using a 2-nanometer process. This lithographic leap is one of the most significant in recent years, as it allows for more transistors to be integrated into the same space, resulting in greater performance and improved energy efficiency. It's rumored to be up to 15% faster and 30% more efficient than the A19 Pro.
Furthermore, the A20 Pro would integrate RAM directly into the same module as the processor, a technique known as WMCM. This would reduce latency and improve bandwidth, something that would particularly benefit AI-related tasks. Both models would have 12GB of RAM , an amount already seen in the iPad Pro M5, allowing for more demanding applications and a much more capable Siri.
The 2-nanometer process is 50% more expensive than its predecessor, and this is precisely one of the factors driving up the price of the device. Added to this is the rising cost of RAM and storage, which is affecting the entire industry. Tim Cook has already warned of an "unprecedented price surge" in memory chips, and all indications are that the iPhone 18 Pro will be no exception.
Cameras: variable aperture and new telephoto lens
The camera system is one of the areas that could bring the most new features. The main one is the addition of a main camera with a variable aperture, something Samsung already tested with the Galaxy S9 but which no other brand has fully mastered. This technology would allow for physical control of the amount of light entering the sensor, resulting in better photos in low-light conditions and greater control over background blur.
The telephoto lens would also receive improvements, with a new stacked sensor developed by Samsung that would offer greater dynamic range and reduced noise in adverse conditions. There's even talk of a teleconverter, although that seems unlikely in the short term. The configuration would remain a triple-camera setup with 48 megapixels , but with more capable sensors and more advanced image processing.
Battery, connectivity and software
The battery is another area that could be improved. Leaks suggest a capacity of between 5.100 and 5.200 mAh for the iPhone 18 Pro Max , slightly higher than the 5.088 mAh of the current model. Combined with the new processor and a more efficient screen, battery life could see a significant leap.
In terms of connectivity, the debut of Apple's C2 modem is expected, which would improve mobile network performance and energy efficiency. It would also support the New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) standard, enabling better satellite communication in emergency situations. The software will be powered by iOS 27 , which will include a revamped Siri thanks to Apple Intelligence.
Finally, it's worth remembering that the official presentation is expected in September 2026, possibly on the 9th. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max would be the stars of the show, while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air might be delayed until spring 2027. The first foldable iPhone could also appear, although this is something Apple hasn't confirmed.
In short, the iPhone 18 Pro is shaping up to be a significant evolution, with improvements in performance, camera, and connectivity, but also with a potential price increase that could be the highest in history. We'll have to wait until September to find out for sure, but what's clear is that anticipation is at its peak.
