Although the release of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is still a year away, early rumors have already hinted at several potential upgrades. According to CNMO, foreign media outlets recently summarized the key leaks:
Smaller Smart Display
According to a digital blogger, the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, and Pro Max will feature a smaller Smart Display, but under-screen Face ID will be delayed until the iPhone 19 Pro or later. Similar rumors about the iPhone 17 Pro failed to materialize, but this one is more likely, as it could be a transitional design for Apple's 20th-anniversary "all-glass iPhone."
Translucent MagSafe Area
Another digital blogger suggests that the iPhone 18 Pro series will inherit the design language of the iPhone 17 Pro, including a horizontal rear camera module with a triple-camera setup in a triangle arrangement, and 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screens on the front. The glass area on the back of the new phones will adopt a "slightly transparent" design, potentially giving it a more matte feel.
Main camera upgrade with variable aperture
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that the iPhone 18 Pro series' main camera (48-megapixel fusion camera) will support manual variable aperture for the first time, allowing users to adjust the amount of light entering. The main cameras on the existing iPhones 14 Pro to 17 Pro all have a fixed aperture of 1.78. However, due to the size of the phone's sensor, the actual depth of field control effect remains to be verified.
Other potential upgrades
A20 Pro chip: Utilizes TSMC's 2nm process, offering significant performance improvements;
Self-developed C2 modem: Supports US millimeter-wave 5G;
Camera control buttons: Switch to pressure-sensitive operation, eliminating swipe gestures.
