Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 series in 2026, which will bring a series of key specification upgrades and design adjustments. According to Apple’s supply chain and analysts, in addition to being equipped with the A20 chip of TSMC’s 2nm process, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may also introduce new technologies such as a variable aperture main lens, under-screen Face ID, 5G satellite networking, and further implement Apple’s long-term strategy of making its own 5G baseband chips. In this article, “Crazy Mr.” will help you sort out the specifications and prices of the top 10 iPhone 18 Pro series that are currently out of the supply chain, as well as the launch date of the new machine.
iPhone 18 Pro appearance and structure: pursuing the ultimate one-piece craftsmanship
Table of Contents
- iPhone 18 Pro appearance and structure: pursuing the ultimate one-piece craftsmanship
- iPhone 18 Pro core performance: TSMC 2nm assist
- iPhone 18 Pro imaging system: breaking Sony’s exclusive introduction of variable aperture black technology
- iPhone 18 Pro mobile network: Integrating 5G satellite Internet and self-developed chips
- iPhone 18 Pro colors: three new colors
- When will Apple launch iPhone 18 Pro and when will it be available?
- Bottom line: Is the iPhone 18 Pro worth the wait?
Fine-tuning the appearance and canceling the two-color design on the back
Apple’s new generation iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to continue the iPhone 17 Pro style 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screen configurations, and the three-lens camera system on the back will still maintain the current “triangular arrangement” raised platform design.
However, the design details of the iPhone 18 Pro will pursue visual integration. There are also rumors that Apple will abandon the two-color design on the back cover of the iPhone 17 Pro and change it to a more integrated appearance. It is said that the new generation of iPhone 18 Pro models will use a new process on the back cover glass, which can reduce the color difference between Ceramic Shield 2 glass and the aluminum alloy frame, making the overall vision more consistent.
In order to accommodate a larger battery and camera module, the thickness of the body may be slightly increased. The weight of the iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to be 243 grams, which is about 3 grams heavier than the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It may once again test the burden on the user’s wrist.
There are currently different opinions on whether the iPhone 18 Pro will introduce “off-screen Face ID” for the first time. If this technology can be realized, the TrueDepth camera module will be hidden under the screen, and the current hole-shaped dynamic island design will no longer be needed.
According to Wayne Ma of “The Information”, Apple is aiming for a screen design without dynamic islands, leaving only a small camera hole in the upper left corner, but other sources have different opinions on this.
Display analyst Ross Young believes that the iPhone 18 Pro may use under-screen Face ID, but the dynamic island will still be retained, but it will be smaller. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman also held the same view, pointing out that the new phone will use a reduced version of the dynamic island instead of completely removing it.
In addition, Instant Digital, a whistleblower from China, also said that Apple is also testing the miniaturization technology of the lens module to reduce the size of the front lens. The iPhone 18 Pro dynamic island will become smaller, but the under-screen Face ID and camera technology will not be launched until later.
iPhone 18 Pro core performance: TSMC 2nm assist
A20 Pro chip adopts TSMC 2nm advanced packaging
According to supply chain news, the iPhone 18 Pro will be Apple’s first product to use TSMC’s 2-nanometer (N2) process, and the chip code is expected to be A20 Pro.
Foreign media speculate that compared to the A19 chip of the iPhone 17, the computing performance of the A20 Pro chip used in the iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to increase by 15%, and the more critical energy efficiency will be greatly improved by 30%, which means that the heat generation and power consumption of the iPhone 18 Pro will be significantly improved when performing high-load AI operations or 3A games.
In addition, the A20 chip will be combined with TSMC’s “Wafer Level Multi-chip Module” (WMCM) packaging technology, which means that some A20 chips will integrate RAM, CPU, GPU, neural engine, etc. on the same wafer instead of connecting through a silicon interposer, further improving performance and battery life, especially for AI computing.
iPhone 18 Pro imaging system: breaking Sony’s exclusive introduction of variable aperture black technology
The camera sensor is supplied by Samsung and adopts a three-layer stack design.
For a long time, CMOS sensors for high-end iPhone models have been exclusively supplied by Sony. Jukan, the whistleblower, revealed that Samsung is developing a new three-layer stacked sensor (PD-TR-Logic) for Apple, which emphasizes high dynamic range, low noise and high response speed, and is expected to improve imaging performance in low-light environments.
This technology mainly separates and stacks photodiodes and circuit layers. The new sensor can improve the iPhone 18 Pro camera shutter response speed and reduce noise. If the news is true, this will be a major change in the iPhone imaging supply chain. It is expected to significantly improve the nighttime purity and dynamic range of the iPhone 18 Pro. It is also an important turning point in the long-term partnership between Apple and Sony.
The first variable aperture main lens, the shooting experience is closer to that of DSLR
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Digital Chat Station learned from within Apple’s supply chain that the iPhone 18 Pro’s main lens (48-megapixel Fusion lens) will introduce a variable aperture design and support scene-based aperture adjustment, allowing users to switch freely according to light and depth of field needs like a DSLR.
Currently, the aperture of the iPhone is fixed at ƒ/1.78, and the depth-of-field effect is mostly simulated by algorithms. If a physical variable aperture is introduced, users can narrow the aperture when there is sufficient light (to obtain sharp landscape photos), or enlarge the aperture in low light (to increase the amount of light), making the physical and optical characteristics of mobile phone photography closer to that of professional single-lens cameras.
If the iPhone 18 Pro camera can adopt a variable aperture design, it will make the iPhone photography function more flexible and support shallow depth of field portrait or clear background shooting modes.
Although the “camera control” button launched on the iPhone 16 is innovative, it has a complicated structure. Some supply chains pointed out that Apple plans to remove the capacitive sensor of the button on the iPhone 18 Pro, leaving only the pressure sensor.
This change is mainly to reduce the difficulty and cost of producing the iPhone 18 series camera control buttons. However, in terms of user experience, Apple will definitely optimize the software to ensure that the operating feel is not affected.
iPhone 18 Pro mobile network: Integrating 5G satellite Internet and self-developed chips
Self-developed Apple C2 chip 5G chip replaces Qualcomm
Jeff Pu, an analyst at GF Securities, pointed out that following the C1 and C1X chips launched last year, the iPhone 18 Pro will be equipped with Apple’s second-generation self-developed 5G modem chip Apple C2.
The second-generation self-developed Apple C2 chip is not only faster and more power-saving, but will directly support mmWave (millimeter wave) technology in the US market. It shows that Apple has the technical strength to decouple from Qualcomm (Qualcomm) in communication modules. It represents Apple’s acceleration of the de-Qualcommization strategy and closer integration of software and hardware.
Support 5G satellite Internet function
According to “The Information”, Apple plans to support NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) non-terrestrial 5G networks in 2026. This means that iPhone satellite communications will no longer be limited to sending SOS distress signals. In the future, users will also be able to perform basic network data transmission through satellites in deep mountains or oceans where there are no base station coverage.
Apple is currently cooperating with Globalstar on related services, but the actual supplier has not yet been announced. If the schedule goes as expected, the iPhone 18 Pro series will be the first models with satellite Internet capabilities.
iPhone 18 Pro colors: three new colors
Burgundy, brown and purple
In terms of color matching, it is reported that the iPhone 18 Pro will add three new color options, including the first appearance of burgundy, brown, and the return of purple. This is also the first time the iPhone Pro series has introduced a red-like tone.
When will Apple launch iPhone 18 Pro and when will it be available?
Starting in 2026, the pace of iPhone release may undergo major changes. According to multiple sources, the iPhone 18 series will adopt a “two-stage” release strategy. The first wave includes iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the first foldable iPhone, which is expected to debut in September 2026.
As for the standard version of iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, their debut has been postponed to the spring of 2027, and will be held in two stages of spring and autumn launches every year. (Extended reading: iPhone product roadmap exposed! 8 new Apple models release time and highlights at once)
Bottom line: Is the iPhone 18 Pro worth the wait?
For users currently holding iPhone 15 Pro or older models, the 2026 iPhone 18 Pro will be an excellent replacement point.
Because this year’s new iPhone 18 Pro not only uses the world’s first TSMC 2nm process, but also is equipped with a variable aperture and new photosensitive elements on the camera optical structure, which means there are physical breakthroughs in many aspects internally, rather than relying solely on AI computing power.
As for users who have just bought the iPhone 17, unless they have extreme photography needs for variable aperture, the current A19 chip performance is sufficient to meet the needs of the next 3-4 years.
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