iPhone 18: Release date, design, specs, rumors for 2026 models

iPhone 18/18 Pro design: Three models, similar designs

Currently, rumors suggest that we will see a base iPhone 18, an iPhone 18 Pro, and an iPhone 18 Pro Max. This is in addition to all non-iPhone 18 models like the foldable iPhone and the second-generation Air.

The designs are said to resemble the current iPhone 17 lineup. The base iPhone 18 will simply have the smaller camera bump found on the iPhone 17, while the Pro and Pro Max will have the larger raised “deck” with three cameras. The screen sizes should be consistent with the 6.3 and 6.9 inch screens of current models.

According to a Weibo leaker, one possible design change is to the charging area on the back of the iPhone 18 Pro models. It appears that the ceramic shield section is “slightly transparent”, but it’s not entirely clear what that means.

iPhone 18/18 Pro camera: Aperture improvements

Apple just upgraded the iPhone 17’s camera system with 48 MP sensors, so there are unlikely to be any significant changes to the hardware. One major rumor we heard about the iPhone 18’s camera system comes from the Digital Chat Station leak on Weibo, which reports that the iPhone 18 Pro Max (and only this model) will receive a camera with a mechanically adjustable aperture like DSLR cameras. This would give users great control over background blur, but more importantly with the ability to keep the foreground and background sharp.

The telephoto lenses on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max should also have a larger overall aperture for sharper images in low-light situations.

Britta O’Boyle

iPhone 18/18 Pro: Dynamic Island

Apple hasn’t changed the size or shape of Dynamic Island since its introduction on the iPhone 14 Pro, but some reports suggest changes could be made to the iPhone 18’s camera cutout. Some have claimed there will be just a simple cutout for the camera, with all of Face ID under the display, but most reports suggest these changes will be limited to the foldable iPhone or arrive on the 20th anniversary model.

However, it may still look different. Bloomberg’s ever-reliable Mark Gurman has claimed that Apple will “scale back” Dynamic Island on iPhone 18 models, suggesting that a few of the many sensors and transmitters required for Face ID will be under the screen or combined.

iPhone 18/18 Pro specs: A20 chip

The iPhone 18 lineup will feature a new A20 processor, likely made using TSMC’s new 2nm manufacturing process (which can allow for more complex chips in the same area and could potentially enable better power efficiency).

The A20 is rumored to use a new process called Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging to incorporate RAM into the SoC package. It’s unclear what the benefit will be, but more tightly integrated RAM could mean more memory bandwidth and lower RAM latency, or better power efficiency.

iPhone 18/18 Pro: wireless connectivity

While the iPhone Air offers a more advanced version of Apple’s C1 modem, dubbed C1X, the other iPhone 17 models still use Qualcomm wireless modems. This is likely to change in the iPhone 18 lineup.

We’re told to expect a new C2 modem in iPhone 18 phones, including the Pro and Pro Max. It’s not yet clear what features it will offer, but it should of course offer better performance and power efficiency than the C1X and likely support high-speed mmWave networks in addition to standard sub-6 networks.

Apple also launched its LAN chip in the iPhone 17 lineup; the N1 supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread networks. We haven’t heard of an N2 on the way, and honestly, we probably won’t need one any time soon. Could Apple have an “N1X” surprise like it did with the C1X? It’s possible, but so far the rumor mill expects Apple to build the iPhone 18 line with the same N1 chip found in the iPhone 17.

However, a report from The Information indicates that Apple is preparing to support 5G networks served by satellites, namely Starlink satellites. Although the iPhone has offered satellite connectivity for emergency situations for years, this would allow the iPhone 18 models to have full access to the internet via satellite, not just emergency services.

iPhone 18/18 Pro release date: split launch

For some time now, there have been consistent reports that Apple will change its release schedule. In September 2026, Apple would only release the high-end models: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the new foldable iPhone and perhaps an updated iPhone Air.

That means the base iPhone 18 model will wait until spring 2027, when it would arrive alongside the iPhone 18e. This is a big change for Apple, and it means that next year’s new iPhones will all be priced at $999 or more.

iPhone 18/18 Pro prices: a wide range

We haven’t seen any reports on price changes for the existing iPhone lineup in 2026. As it stands, the iPhone 17 starts at $799, the iPhone Air at $999, and the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models start at $1,099 and $1,199, respectively. However, the arrival of the foldable iPhone could radically change the pricing structure, since it would have a starting price of $1,999 or more.