Apple iPhone 18 Pro: Everything We Know About the September 2026 Flagship
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro is moving closer to reality, with production testing already underway and a September 2026 launch window solidifying fast. From a groundbreaking variable aperture camera to the first-ever 2nm chip in an iPhone, the iPhone 18 Pro is shaping up to be one of the most significant upgrades in years — and this week brought a wave of new details.
iPhone 18 Pro Release Date and Launch Strategy
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in September 2026, likely announced around September 9–10 with pre-orders opening immediately and sales beginning September 18–19. Apple is breaking from its traditional single-wave release cycle this year, rolling out a split strategy: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the new iPhone Fold will launch together in fall 2026, while the base iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will not arrive until spring 2027.
This phased rollout is projected to reduce total iPhone 18 series shipments in 2026 by roughly 20% compared to 2025, since the base models that typically represent around 30% of volume will not ship this year. However, because the higher-margin Pro models will still launch on schedule, Apple's revenue impact is expected to remain limited.
iPhone 18 Pro: Key Specs and Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Chip | A20 Pro — first 2nm Apple silicon in an iPhone |
| RAM | 12GB (upgrade from current generation) |
| Display sizes | 6.3-inch (Pro) and 6.9-inch (Pro Max) — unchanged |
| Main camera | 48MP variable aperture — a first for any iPhone |
| Modem | Apple C2 — adds mmWave 5G and satellite internet support |
| Face ID | Under-display TrueDepth system being tested — Dynamic Island may be removed |
| 5G satellite | Full satellite internet connectivity possible via NR-NTN standard |
| New color | Deep red being tested — first Pro model in red since iPhone 14 |
| Pricing | Expected to hold at $1,199 (Pro) and $1,399 (Pro Max) |
The Variable Aperture Camera: iPhone 18 Pro's Biggest Camera Leap
The most talked-about iPhone 18 Pro upgrade is its variable aperture main camera. The current iPhone 17 Pro, like the 15 and 16 Pro before it, uses a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture permanently locked at its widest setting. The iPhone 18 Pro would allow users to physically adjust the aperture — just as a DSLR does — giving direct control over depth of field, low-light performance, and background blur intensity.
Samsung pioneered this feature in its Galaxy S9 and S10 in 2018 and 2019 before quietly dropping it in 2020 due to manufacturing complexity and device thickness. Apple is now reviving it, and Samsung is reportedly planning to follow Apple's lead and bring variable aperture back to its own flagships.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was first to flag the feature in late 2024, and multiple subsequent reports confirm it is moving forward into production.
iPhone 18 Pro Design: Refined but Familiar
Leaks indicate the iPhone 18 Pro will carry a familiar silhouette — the same triangular rear camera plateau introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro — but with notable refinements. The two-tone rear casing of the current generation may give way to a more seamless, uniform look. Bezels are expected to shrink slightly. The most dramatic potential design shift is under-display Face ID: Apple is reportedly testing a micro-transparent glass system that would allow TrueDepth infrared sensors to function beneath the screen, eliminating the Dynamic Island notch entirely and replacing it with a single hole-punch selfie camera.
iPhone 18 Pro Colors: Deep Red Enters Testing
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman confirmed this week that Apple is actively testing a deep red or burgundy finish for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max — the first time a Pro model would be offered in red, and the first red iPhone since the (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 14 in 2022. Earlier rumors pointing to purple or brown options are now believed to be variations of the same red concept rather than distinct colorways. The upcoming iPhone Fold, meanwhile, is expected to launch only in dark gray or black and a light silver or white.
iPhone 18 Pro Production Status
A Weibo post from established supply chain leaker Fixed Focus Digital confirmed this week that the iPhone 18 Pro has entered production validation testing (PVT) — the stage at which Apple's assembly partners run the actual production line to check yields, quality control, and component integration before full mass production ramps up over the summer. Three internal components are being validated: the A20 Pro chip, the new variable aperture camera mechanism, and the Apple C2 modem. Full mass production is expected to begin in summer 2026.
