The iPhone 18 Pro, scheduled for launch next month, is expected to feature six major upgrades including a 2-nanometer chipset, an adjustable camera aperture, and a larger battery.
The website 9to5Mac summarized six anticipated features for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which Apple plans to unveil this coming September alongside the iPhone Ultra, Apple's first foldable smartphone.
First, the design of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to remain similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, except for a smaller Dynamic Island due to relocating the Face ID components beneath the display, resulting in a reduced notch size.
On the back of the device, reports indicate Apple will adjust the aluminum and glass colors to be more closely matched, introducing a new Dark Cherry or burgundy shade to replace the iPhone 17 Pro’s primary Cosmic Orange color.
Next is the chipset: Apple will use the Apple A20 Pro chip built on a 2-nanometer architecture and employ Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module packaging technology to improve energy efficiency and AI processing performance.
The camera system may be the most significant upgrade for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, featuring an adjustable aperture that allows more flexible control over depth of field. Users can select shallow focus to isolate subjects, medium focus to keep some background detail, or deep focus for full sharpness throughout the frame. Additionally, the telephoto lens is reported to have a wider aperture, along with professional-level camera app features.
Regarding the battery, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to have about 10% more capacity, benefiting further from the 2-nanometer manufacturing process of the A20 Pro chip and switching to Apple's own C2 modem instead of Qualcomm's 5G modem, focusing on power efficiency.
Another change involves the Camera Control button, first introduced on the iPhone 16 to manage camera functions with touch gestures for zoom, exposure, and tone. Many users found it complex and difficult to operate, so Apple plans to simplify this button on the iPhone 18 by removing touch-sensitive components and possibly making other adjustments to improve ease of use.