The iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro are expected at a point in September 2026, given Apple's recent history of announcements. The two Pro-branded iPhones may be accompanied by Apple's first foldable iPhone.
Device family
Announcement
Market release
Apple iPhone 18 family
September 2026*
September 2026*
Apple iPhone 17 family
September 9, 2025
September 19, 2025
Apple iPhone 16 family
September 9, 2024
September 20, 2024
* - probable dates
What's interesting is that the vanilla iPhone 18might skip the fall 2026 release and instead be unveiled in the spring of 2027.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro are rumored to pop up half a year earlier, which means they'll get people's attention long before the regular model. This could lead to more people just buying the Pro model instead of the "vanilla" one.
The new Pro duo will most likely hit the stores after a brief 10-day period as well.
In late 2025, we learned that the iPhone 18 Pro had entered its initial production stages. Now, Apple is reportedly starting production testing, according to a new leak. During this stage, parts of the assembly line are run so that Cupertino can check out yields and exercise quality control.
iPhone 18 Pro Max price and deals
Apple is rumored to adopt TSMC's 2-nanometer processors in 2026, likely for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Moving from 3nm to 2nm could raise the cost of each chip by around $35, a 70% increase from $50 to $85.
This added expense is expected to push up the retail price of these models unless Apple absorbs the cost internally.
Apple: Likely to continue its iPhone Upgrade Program, allowing users to get a new iPhone every 12 months through 12 payments and a trade-in of their current device.
Verizon: The iPhone 18 Pro may come with no upfront cost (with an eligible plan), while the iPhone 18 Pro Max could require a small upfront payment; terms should be reviewed carefully.
T-Mobile: Expected to offer the iPhone 18 Pro for free with an eligible plan and trade-in, with potential discounts up to $700 on any iPhone 18 model or BOGO deals when adding a line.
AT&T: Anticipated to provide attractive promotions, possibly giving the iPhone 18 Pro for free with a qualifying plan and trade-in of any phone.
iPhone 18 Pro Max camera
Expected iPhone 18 Pro Maxcamera setup:
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Main camera: 48 MP sensor by Samsung with variable aperture (or 200 MP)
Telephoto camera: 48 MP (4x–8x) Fusion camera
Ultra-wide camera: 48 MP
Selfie camera: 18 MP selfie with Center Stage
Apple is reportedly partnering with Samsung to develop new chip technology at a US facility, likely the company's Austin, Texas plant, where production of image sensors for iPhones could begin in March 2026. This suggests the iPhone 18 lineup may be the first to feature Samsung's stacked CMOS sensor, potentially a 200 MP one, a major jump from Apple's current 48 MP maximum.
However, most rumors indicate that the main camera may remain at 48 MP, and so far, the 200 MP sensor has not been corroborated.
At the very end of 2025, Samsung was reportedly hiring specialists for its Austin fab.
If confirmed, this would be the first time Apple has used Samsung camera hardware in iPhones, signaling a significant change in a component partnership long dominated by Sony, which has unveiled its own 200 MP sensor in response.
A promising leak says the iPhone 18 Pro duo's main and telephoto cameras could offer larger apertures, which allows more light to hit the sensor.
Variable aperture lets a camera adjust its lens opening to control light and depth of field, with wider apertures improving low-light performance and background blur, and narrower apertures keeping more of the scene in focus while reducing light.
The variable aperture rumors were repeated once again in mid-October 2025, so this leak might probably turn out to be true.
Meanwhile, another DSLR-like feature has been rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro Max: a teleconverter. This leak, however, has only been rumored once, so take it with a grain of salt.
The potential teleconverter would help improve zoom reach and decrease the need for the camera to rely on digital cropping for zoomed-in images.
A different kind of Camera Control button
Earlier rumors suggested Apple might remove the Camera Control button on the iPhone 18, but a more credible leak says it may instead be simplified. Weibo leaker Instant Digital reports that the pressure-sensitive modules are in trial production, and Apple could drop the capacitive sensor, relying solely on pressure sensing for all button functions.
The iPhone 16 currently uses both capacitive and pressure sensors under a sapphire crystal surface to detect taps, presses, and swipes. The new setup could work like Oppo's Find X8 Ultra, recognizing different gestures through pressure alone. Cost is likely driving the change, as the dual-sensor design is expensive to produce and repair, while features like Visual Intelligence remain key to the button's value.
iPhone 18 Pro Max storage
iPhone 18 Pro Maxstorage capacity:
256 GB
512 GB
1 TB
2 TB
iPhone 18 Pro storage capacity:
256 GB
512 GB
1 TB
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to offer various storage options, likely ranging from 256 GB up to 1 TB for the Pro and up to 2 TB for the Pro Max.
The higher capacities would give users plenty of space for photos, videos, apps, games, and AI features, making it particularly useful for creators who work with 4K or 8K footage, ProRes RAW files, or run multiple demanding apps at once.
iPhone 18 Pro Max design
The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to largely retain the iPhone 17 Pro's design, though leaks suggest a small cosmetic tweak: a slightly transparent glass section on the rear, likely over the vapor chamber, purely for visual effect.
The rear camera layout, triple lens arrangement, and screen sizes are expected to remain the same.
Earlier rumors about the iPhone 18 Pro models sporting under-display Face ID are likely not happening. Instead, some Face ID sensors may be hidden under the display, thus allowing the Dynamic Island to shrink. However, it's here to stay, according to the majority of rumors.
That's how small the Dynamic Island may be on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. | Image by IceUniverse
Meanwhile, the two materials for the back (glass and aluminum) are said to remain for another year. Apple may have, however, improved the situation with the controversial dual-tone design, and with the new phones, the colors may be more seamless.
Another leak is detailing Apple has been experimenting with new colors. These may be Coffee Brown, Purple, and Burgundy, as shown in the concept renders below:
iPhone 18 Pro renders. | Image by AppleInsider
Of course, Apple may choose not to offer these colors, we still don't know. Adding fuel to the fire (at least when it comes to the new colors) this time around is Mark Gurman, who also iterates the claim Cupertino is testing some new colors. According to Gurman, the red is potentially the color that Apple may settle on for the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro.
If you ask me, I'd love for the rumor about a red iPhone 18 Pro Max to be accurate, as I think red would look simply amazing on a Pro-branded iPhone.
Thicker and heavier?
Apple is reportedly planning to make the iPhone 18 Pro Max slightly thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, likely to accommodate a larger battery, just as it did with the iPhone 17 Pro (which was thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro).
The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to become the heaviest iPhone yet, with its weight reportedly pushing past 240 grams. That would put it above the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max, which both sit at 240 grams, and mark a noticeable increase over the iPhone 17 Pro Max (233 g). Current estimates suggest the new model could be around 10 grams heavier than its predecessor, bringing the total weight to roughly 243 grams and making it Apple's heaviest flagship to date.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to feature new LTPO+ display technology in 2026, which should allow higher refresh rates while using battery power more efficiently. The screens are rumored to stay roughly the same size as the iPhone 17 series, around 6.27 inches for the Pro and 6.86 inches for the Pro Max, with a resolution of 1.5K.
Device
Screen size
Brightness
iPhone 18 Pro Max
6.9"
3,000 nits
iPhone 18 Pro
6.3"
3,000 nits
* - anticipated
These panels should be bright and anti-reflective, as they are on their predecessors.
Leaks suggested earlier that Apple may have switched to a punch-hole design for the front camera, moving Face ID and other sensors under the display. This change would've increased the screen-to-body ratio while avoiding the potential image quality issues of under-display cameras.
However, more recent leaks and rumors claim that the Dynamic Island may stay for another year, becoming slightly smaller.
Apple's plans to adopt hole-in-active-area (HIAA) technology for the iPhone 18 Pro, introducing a small pinhole cutout for the front camera, are, apparently, not going to come to fruition. Curiously enough, reputable industry insiders like Digital Chat Station and Ross Young have previously claimed we may see a punch-hole camera for the selfie lens.
iPhone 18 Pro Max battery
While there are no indications so far that Apple would substantially increase the battery capacity on the iPhone 18 Pro, there are reports suggesting the Pro duo could offer a notable battery advantage. Also, there are some rumors the mAh capacity might be larger.
Reputable tipster Digital Chat Station has claimed the iPhone 18 Pro Maxmay bring a bigger battery: reportedly, 5,000+ mAh. DCS has also said some international units may even come equipped with 5,200 mAh battery cells.
On top of it all, the company is expected to bring its in-house cellular modem to this year's Pro models, allowing tighter integration between hardware and software. This optimization could improve efficiency, giving the iPhone 18 Pro longer battery life compared with using a Qualcomm chip.
Additionally, rumor has it that iOS 27 would also improve the battery life on iPhones, thanks to improvements in efficiency that the update is said to bring.
Expected battery capacity:
iPhone 18 Pro: ~4,000 mAh
iPhone 18 Pro (eSIM): ~4,250 mAh
iPhone 18 Pro Max: ~4,800 mAh, or 5,000+ mAh
iPhone 18 Pro Max (eSIM): ~5,100 mAh, or 5,000+ mAh
iPhone 18 Pro Max features and software
iOS 27 is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 lineup in 2026, bringing deeper Apple Intelligence integration and a more refined Siri experience. Some of the AI tools delayed for iPhone 17 may finally arrive, giving Apple a chance to catch up with rivals that already lean heavily on generative AI.
For the iPhone 18 Pro, one of the key upgrades could be higher-performance RAM sourced from Samsung. This 6-channel memory would deliver greater bandwidth, enabling smoother multitasking and powering more advanced AI features. Faster RAM would also boost overall performance across apps, gaming, and productivity.
Apple's push for AI is the main driver behind these changes, as the company looks to avoid the incomplete rollout issues that plagued earlier iPhones. With iOS 27 and upgraded hardware, the iPhone 18 Pro is shaping up to be Apple's most AI-focused device yet.
iPhone 18 Pro Max hardware and specs
iPhone 18 Pro Maxspecs:
CPU: A20 Pro (2nm)
RAM: 12 GB
Battery: up to ~5,100 mAh
Charging: up to 40W wired charge
Storage: 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB
Camera setup: 200 MP main camera sensor, 48 MP telephoto, 48 MP ultra-wide, 18 MP selfie with Center Stage
Connectivity: Apple's in-house C2 modem
iPhone 18 Pro specs:
CPU: A20 Pro (2nm)
RAM: 12 GB
Battery: from ~4,100 mAh
Charging: up to 40W wired charge
Storage: 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
Camera setup: 200 MP main camera sensor, 48 MP telephoto, 48 MP ultra-wide, 18 MP selfie with Center Stage
Connectivity: Apple's in-house C2 modem
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are shaping up to be major hardware upgrades, with reports pointing to Apple introducing its first in-house 5G modem for flagship models. This new chip, likely called the C2, is expected to deliver better efficiency than Qualcomm's modems while also supporting mmWave, which was missing from Apple's earlier C1 modem. Improved efficiency could also mean noticeable gains in battery life.
The C2 has also been associated with a potential 5G satellite connectivity feature. If true, that would make the iPhone capable of covering for the lack of 5G connectivity in remote areas by connecting to a satellite orbiting the Earth. And I'm not talking about emergency SOS-type connectivity but about full-blown internet access. We'll have to wait and see if that rumor will turn out to be accurate, though, as it's coming from a tipster with a mixed track record (Fixed Focus Digital).
Apple is now said to have started production testing of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and according to rumors, there are not too many dramatic changes:
Machine translated post by leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo. | Image by Weibo
At the heart of the Pro duo will be Apple's A20 Pro processor, rumored to be the first iPhone chip built on TSMC's 2nm process. The smaller node promises up to 15% faster performance and as much as 30% better power efficiency on the A20 compared to the A19. For the Pro models, Apple may also debut a new packaging method called Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM), which integrates memory closer to the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine to boost performance and keep the device running cooler.
Meanwhile, Apple is also said to bring its N2 wireless networking chip to its flagship devices this time around. The N1 was the chip in the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro are said to come with the N2 chip. It should improve the reliability of Personal Hotspot and AirDrop and boost speeds even more than what the N1 offered.
Should I wait for the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
You should wait for the iPhone 18 Pro duo if you want Apple’s biggest leap in performance, efficiency, and camera technology in years.
You should not wait for the iPhone 18 Pro duo if you need a new phone right now and can't hold out until September 2026. Also, if you're looking for a budget-friendly device, you can pass on the iPhone 18 Pro duo.
Sebastian, a veteran of a tech writer with over 15 years of experience in media and marketing, blends his lifelong fascination with writing and technology to provide valuable insights into the realm of mobile devices. Embracing the evolution from PCs to smartphones, he harbors a special appreciation for the Google Pixel line due to their superior camera capabilities. Known for his engaging storytelling style, sprinkled with rich literary and film references, Sebastian critically explores the impact of technology on society, while also perpetually seeking out the next great tech deal, making him a distinct and relatable voice in the tech world.
