Apple may still be months away from unveiling its next generation of flagship iPhones, but early leaks have already begun painting a picture of what the company could be preparing for 2026. The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to headline Apple’s next premium lineup, and initial reports suggest that these models could introduce some noticeable internal and design changes. While nothing has been officially confirmed, details around the display, camera system, chipset, battery, and pricing strategy have started circulating online. Much of the attention is currently centred around a possible redesign of the front display. Here is a look at the leaked battery, camera, display, design, launch timeline and other details of the upcoming iPhones.
iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max: Leaked camera, battery, price, design, launch details and more
Any Design changes?
One of the key changes being discussed is the potential shift of Face ID hardware beneath the screen. According to a report by The Information, Apple could place the Face ID components under the display on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. If this move goes ahead, the familiar Dynamic Island cutout seen on recent iPhones could disappear from the front panel. Instead, the front-facing camera may appear as a small hole positioned near the top-left corner of the display.
Such a change could make the screen appear cleaner and less obstructed during everyday use. However, reports also indicate that the overall design language of the phone may remain similar to what Apple is expected to introduce with the iPhone 17 Pro lineup. This means the body structure, materials, and camera placement might not change drastically even if the internal components are rearranged.
On the rear side, Apple is likely to continue with its triple-camera setup mounted on a raised camera platform. While the basic layout may remain familiar, there could be some subtle design refinements. Leaks suggest Apple may adjust the texture or finish of the back glass so it blends more seamlessly with the aluminium frame. The company is also said to be experimenting with new colours for the Pro models. Shades like deep purple, burgundy, and a coffee-toned brown are reportedly being tested internally.
Camera changes?
Camera hardware is expected to be another area where Apple could attempt something different. One of the upgrades being discussed is the addition of a mechanical iris on at least one rear camera. This would allow the camera to adjust its aperture depending on lighting conditions. Current iPhone cameras use a fixed aperture, which means exposure control is largely handled through software processing. A variable aperture could offer greater flexibility while shooting photos and videos, especially in complex lighting environments.
There are also reports suggesting Apple could adopt a three-layer stacked image sensor developed by Samsung. Sensors built using this approach are typically designed to handle image processing faster while reducing noise in photos. They can also help improve dynamic range, which may result in better detail in both bright and darker areas of an image. In addition, both the main and telephoto cameras are expected to feature wider apertures to improve low-light photography.
New chipset?
Inside the phone, Apple may introduce a new chipset for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. The devices are widely expected to run on the A20 Pro processor, which is said to be built using TSMC’s next-generation 2nm manufacturing process. Moving to a smaller process generally helps improve both performance and power efficiency.
Beyond the manufacturing process, Apple may also change how key components are arranged internally. Reports suggest the company could use a technology called Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module packaging. With this method, RAM is integrated directly alongside the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine rather than being placed separately on the motherboard. This tighter integration could improve performance, increase efficiency, and allow Apple to free up internal space inside the phone.
That extra internal space could be useful for other upgrades. For instance, leaks indicate that the iPhone 18 Pro Max might be slightly thicker than previous models to accommodate a larger battery. The Pro Max variant is tipped to feature a battery capacity of around 5,100mAh. The trade-off could be a heavier device, with reports suggesting the phone’s weight might cross 240 grams.
Connectivity, display
Connectivity improvements are also expected, particularly on the Pro Max model. The device may include Apple’s next-generation C2 modem, which could bring back support for mmWave 5G within Apple’s in-house modem lineup. This could help improve peak 5G speeds in markets where mmWave networks are available and reduce reliance on third-party modem suppliers.
As for the display, the screen sizes are not expected to change. The iPhone 18 Pro is likely to continue with a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max may retain a 6.9-inch panel. However, there is still some disagreement among sources about how Apple will handle the front cutout. Some reports suggest the Dynamic Island may disappear entirely, while others believe Apple could keep a smaller version of it even if Face ID hardware moves under the display.
iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max: Launch timeline, prices (leaked/ expected)
In terms of launch timing, Apple is expected to follow its traditional schedule. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are currently tipped to debut around September 2026. Interestingly, some reports indicate that the standard iPhone 18 model might not arrive alongside the Pro models and could instead launch later, possibly in 2027.
Pricing is still uncertain at this stage as Apple has not announced anything about the iPhone 18 lineup. However, recent pricing trends may offer some clues about what buyers can expect. With the iPhone 17 series, Apple introduced noticeable price changes in India. The standard iPhone 17 now starts at Rs 82,900 for the 256GB model, which is higher than the Rs 79,900 starting price of the iPhone 16. The increase was even more visible in the Pro lineup. The iPhone 17 Pro launched at Rs 1,34,900 for the base variant, up from Rs 1,19,900 for the iPhone 16 Pro. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro Max now starts at Rs 1,49,900.
Because Apple has already pushed prices higher with the current generation, the company may choose to keep the iPhone 18 series pricing relatively stable to avoid further pressure on buyers. At the same time, factors such as rising component costs and supply constraints, including ongoing shortages of RAM components, could still affect Apple’s pricing decisions. For now, it remains unclear whether the iPhone 18 Pro lineup will see another price increase when it launches later this year.
