Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to introduce major design and hardware upgrades, including under-screen Face ID, according to a new report by The Information.
Citing Apple supply chain sources, the report claims that Face ID components will be hidden beneath the display, while the front camera will shift to the top-left corner of the screen. As a result, Apple is expected to remove the pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout from the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
Despite this change, the overall design of the devices is said to remain similar to the iPhone 17 Pro models, maintaining Apple’s familiar premium aesthetic.
Major Camera Upgrade with Variable Aperture
One of the most notable upgrades tipped for the iPhone 18 Pro models is a mechanical iris on at least one rear camera, allowing variable aperture control. This aligns with earlier predictions by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said the 48-megapixel main camera would support adjustable aperture settings.
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Currently, iPhone Pro models from the iPhone 14 Pro to iPhone 17 Pro use a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture. With variable aperture, users would gain greater control over depth of field, enabling improved portrait shots and better adaptability to different lighting conditions. However, experts caution that the real-world impact may be limited due to the smaller image sensors used in smartphones.
A20 Pro Chip and Advanced 2nm Technology
The report also reveals that the iPhone 18 Pro series will likely be powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip, manufactured using TSMC’s advanced 2nm process. Apple is reportedly adopting Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging, which integrates RAM directly onto the chip alongside the CPU, GPU and Neural Engine.
This new chip architecture is expected to deliver faster overall performance, improved Apple Intelligence processing, better thermal efficiency, and longer battery life. The smaller chip footprint could also free up internal space for other components.
Expected Launch Timeline
Apple is widely expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September 2026, continuing its annual flagship release cycle.
