Apple is widely expected to refresh its premium smartphone iPhone 18 Pro

Apple is widely expected to refresh its premium smartphone lineup in September 2026, and the iPhone 18 Pro is already shaping up to be one of the company’s most ambitious upgrades in years. While Apple has not confirmed anything officially, supply-chain chatter and analyst reports offer a fairly clear picture of what could be coming.

 

Performance & Chipset

 

At the heart of the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be Apple’s A20 Pro processor, reportedly manufactured using an advanced 2nm fabrication process. If accurate, this would mark a major leap in both processing power and power efficiency, allowing Apple to push more demanding AI-driven features without compromising battery life.

Display & Front Design

 

The phone is rumored to feature a 6.2-inch OLED panel with 120Hz ProMotion support. However, the bigger story may be on the front design. Apple is said to be testing under-display Face ID technology, which could dramatically shrink the Dynamic Island—or eliminate it altogether in favor of a subtle punch-hole camera cutout. This would result in a cleaner, more immersive screen experience.

 

Camera System

 

Photography is expected to remain a major focus. The iPhone 18 Pro may continue with a 48MP triple-camera setup, but reports suggest the main sensor could introduce a variable aperture, allowing users greater control over light intake and depth of field.

Additionally, Samsung is rumored to be supplying a next-generation three-layer stacked image sensor, which could significantly improve low-light performance, dynamic range, and image detail.

 

Build Quality & Design Direction

 

Apple is likely to stick with its premium materials but may introduce a more uniform, single-tone color finish across the chassis. To accommodate internal upgrades—especially the battery—the device could end up slightly thicker and heavier than its predecessor.

 

Battery & Charging

 

Battery capacity is rumored to be close to 5,000mAh, a notable increase by Apple standards. Charging speeds, however, are expected to remain conservative, with support for 20W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, prioritizing long-term battery health over headline-grabbing numbers.

 

AI & Software Experience

 

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be deeply integrated with Apple Intelligence, Apple’s on-device AI framework. This could translate into more context-aware Siri interactions, smarter photo and video editing, improved personalization, and enhanced privacy-focused AI processing directly on the device.

 

Launch Timeline & Pricing (Expected)

 

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in the second week of September 2026, potentially alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Interestingly, reports suggest Apple may delay the standard iPhone 18 until spring 2027, reflecting a new staggered launch strategy.

 

In India, the base iPhone 18 Pro variant (8GB RAM + 128GB storage) could be priced at approximately ₹1,43,990, with a strong chance of further increases due to the higher manufacturing costs associated with the 2nm chipset and advanced camera hardware.

Disclaimer: All details are based on leaks and industry speculation. Final specifications, pricing, and availability will be confirmed only after Apple’s official announcement.

 

By – Aaradhay Sharma