iPhone 18 Pro: 10 key upgrades you can expect this year

Battery improvements are also on the table, especially for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Early reports point to a larger battery compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple hasn’t shared any capacity numbers yet, but even a small increase could result in noticeably better endurance.

For heavy users, that could mean longer screen-on time, fewer charging breaks, and a phone that holds up better during long days of streaming, gaming, or navigation.

Is the Dynamic Island on its way out?

This is where things get a bit messy, because leaks around the Dynamic Island are all over the place. Some reports claim Apple plans to remove it entirely from the Pro models, replacing it with a simple punch-hole cutout positioned on the left side of the display.

That change would likely go hand in hand with under-display Face ID, a move that would represent Apple’s biggest front design shift since the iPhone X launched back in 2017.

That said, not everyone agrees. Other sources suggest Apple will indeed move Face ID beneath the display but keep the Dynamic Island alive, just in a smaller form. Since it’s still a feature many users enjoy, Apple may not be ready to drop it completely.

At this point, one thing feels certain: the display design is changing. Exactly how far Apple goes with it remains to be seen.

New OLED tech could boost efficiency even more

Display upgrades don’t stop with the Dynamic Island. Samsung is reportedly preparing its most advanced OLED panels yet for Apple, starting with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. These panels are said to use LTPO+ (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon Oxide Plus) technology.

The key benefit here is power efficiency. By using oxide technology in the driver unit, these displays can consume less energy while still supporting a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz. They are also capable of housing an infrared camera beneath the panel, which fits perfectly with the under-display Face ID rumors.

If this pans out, the iPhone 18 Pro models could deliver smoother visuals while quietly improving battery life at the same time.

The Camera Control button might feel very different

Apple’s Camera Control button could also be getting a rethink. Leaks suggest Apple may remove touch sensitivity and haptic feedback altogether, leaving only pressure-based input.

The goal seems simple: fewer accidental gestures. By relying solely on pressure, users would have more deliberate control over the camera, while keeping the button’s core functionality intact. It’s a small tweak, but one that could make the feature feel more reliable.

More storage headroom for demanding users

Storage is another area where Apple appears ready to go big. The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to start at 256 GB and scale all the way up to a massive 2 TB option.

That kind of capacity makes sense for users who shoot a lot of high-resolution photos, record 4K or 8K video, work with ProRes RAW files, or rely heavily on demanding apps. With AI features also taking up more space, extra storage could quickly become a necessity rather than a luxury. However, keep in mind that more storage usually means a higher price, too.

Apple’s first 2nm chip could arrive

On the performance side, the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to debut the A20 Pro chip, built using TSMC’s next-gen 2nm process. The current iPhone 17 lineup runs on the A19, which is based on 3nm technology, so this would be a significant step forward.

Early estimates point to around a 15% boost in raw performance, along with roughly 30% lower power consumption. Smaller transistors typically mean less heat and better efficiency, which could help the iPhone 18 Pro feel both faster and more battery-friendly.

A more polished look on the back

Apple may also be refining the phone’s back design. On the iPhone 17 Pro models, the glass section used for wireless charging doesn’t perfectly match the surrounding aluminum frame, resulting in a subtle color mismatch.

The iPhone 18 Pro could address this by better aligning the glass and metal finishes for a more uniform appearance. While there were earlier rumors about a partially transparent back, newer reports suggest Apple is aiming for a cleaner, more seamless look instead.

Apple could finally drop Qualcomm modems

Another big internal change could arrive with connectivity. Apple is rumored to introduce its in-house C2 modem across the iPhone 18 lineup, fully replacing Qualcomm’s modem hardware. This would build on the C1 modem that debuted in the iPhone 16e.

The C2 modem is expected to improve mmWave performance, enhance carrier aggregation, and run more efficiently overall. That could mean faster 5G speeds with less battery drain, even during heavy data use, marking an important milestone for Apple’s wireless ambitions.

The Pro Max might set a new weight record

All these additions could come with one trade-off: weight. With a larger battery inside, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is rumored to tip the scales at over 240 grams, potentially making it the heaviest iPhone Apple has ever released.

For comparison, both the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max weighed exactly 240 grams. The extra heft suggests Apple is prioritizing battery life and performance over keeping the Pro Max ultra-light.

Based on everything leaked so far, the iPhone 18 Pro is shaping up to be a carefully calculated upgrade. Apple doesn’t seem focused on flashy changes, but instead on refining key areas like performance, battery life, cameras, displays, and connectivity. If these reports hold up, Apple’s 2026 flagship could end up being one of its most well-rounded Pro upgrades yet.