iPhone 18: Everything We Know About Apple's Biggest Updates

Apple never directly reveals details about upcoming hardware at its Worldwide Developers Conference, which happened at the beginning of June, but that hasn't stopped the flow of rumors about the iPhone 18 lineup that's just a few short months away. The iPhone 18 lineup is shaping up to be one of Apple's most consequential in years and also one of its most complicated. The Pro and Pro Max models are expected to arrive in September, joined for the first time by Apple's long-rumored foldable device, widely referred to as the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra, which is expected to start above $2,000.

The standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18E and a second-generation iPhone Air, meanwhile, are reportedly being pushed to spring 2027, a significant departure from the all-in-one-fall-event model Apple has followed for years. If you've been waiting to upgrade to a standard iPhone, that shift changes the calculus considerably. Previously, the iPhone 17 series impressed us with its surprisingly feature-packed base model, the incredibly slender iPhone Air, the boldly redesigned iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max and the entry-level iPhone 17E.

We're hoping the iPhone 18 lineup will surprise us, too. The company is only a year or so away from the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone's launch. While the company sells more phones in the US than rival Android phones, Apple is consistently behind Samsung in global sales and just ahead of Chinese phone-makers like Xiaomi.

A lot is at stake for Apple with the next iPhone, including building interest in a possible foldable device, such as the rumored iPhone Fold. Some of the hottest rumors include Dynamic Island shrinking, along with the possibility that the iPhone 18 and 18 Pro will have the same RAM as the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Also, word is that Apple could split the launch of its iPhone 18 lineup, with the premium models coming out this year and more entry-level models following next year.

Here's a look at all the rumors and leaks we've uncovered about the potential iPhone 18 series. We had 's creative director show us what a light blue-colored iPhone Pro might look like. We're hearing there likely will be three models: the base iPhone 18, the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

There also may be iPhone models not in this series, like a second-generation Air or the much-rumored folding iPhone. That could mean a total of six iPhone models that are in the works if you include the also-rumored 18E. Designs for the iPhone tend to remain the same year after year, and current rumors suggest this trend will continue.

9 inches, respectively -- with minor design differences in the camera bumps on the back. A Weibo tipster also appears to hint that Apple's brightness requirements are incredibly demanding, which might result in OLED supply issues. This leads some to suspect it has a much brighter screen.

The base iPhone 18 is rumored to have a smaller camera bump compared to its predecessor, while the Pro and Pro Max will retain the wider "plateau" to accommodate their three rear cameras. According to a leak from the Chinese social media site Weibo, the Pro model could get a "subtle transparent finish" on the rear glass panel. A Chinese leaker reportedly said that the iPhone 18 Pro could have a more unified design versus the two-tone look it has now.

Some rumors also suggest that it could have a heavier, thicker build. It might also come in three new colors: light blue, dark cherry and dark gray. Earlier rumors pointed to a coffee brown color; however, that option appears to have been scrapped, according to supposed dummy units shared Other rumors suggest that changes may be coming to the iPhone's Dynamic Island.

Gurman and Weibo user Digital Chat Station suggest that Apple may reduce the size of the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 models. This could result in a small pinhole cutout for the camera, as the Face ID sensors may be located beneath the display. The Information also recently reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature under-screen Face ID, confirming the Bloomberg rumor.

Additionally, the outlet said the front camera would be moved to the top left corner of the screen and, as a result, would miss the Dynamic Island cutout. Contrary to that claim, X account Ice Universe alleges that the Dynamic Island cutout on the iPhone 18 Pro models will remain, but will instead be "approximately 35% narrower" than on current iPhone 17 Pro models. This relates to how the Dynamic Island looks by default: the area enlarges when Live Activities or other information are displayed, just like the existing Dynamic Island.

suggests that the new iPhone will only have partial under-screen Face ID, which still requires a Dynamic Island. Another piece of evidence that supports the shrinking Dynamic Island claim is recently leaked images from the X account @earlyappleleaks. The photos show what appears to be an iPhone 18 Pro prototype with a much smaller Dynamic Island cutout.

Similarly, X account Ice Universe shared a photo of what it claims to be an iPhone 18 Pro screen protector. It, too, shows a much smaller Dynamic Island. We've tested under-display cameras on several phones over the years.

The part of the display in front of the camera features fewer screen elements and translucent wiring, allowing the selfie camera to "see through" the screen, much like looking out a window with open blinds. While the idea of a display with minimal or Otherwise, Bloomberg's Gurman also warns that the 18 Pro could be "underwhelming," noting that it could feature only minor After years of customers asking, Apple finally chose battery over case slimness in the iPhone 17 Pro. And that model continues to surprise us, coming out on top in Patrick Holland's recent comparison of battery life across 35 phones.

We're especially curious about whether Apple will adopt new silicon-carbon battery technology. Based on a post on the Chinese social media site Weibo, spotted by , the iPhone 18 Pro could include a battery in excess of 5,000 mAh -- specifically, 5,000 mAh for models with a physical SIM card slot (as required in some countries) and 5,200 mAh for models that rely solely on eSIM (which give up more internal space that can be filled with more battery). A recent post by Chinese Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station claims that Apple is trying out different battery capacities for different regions.

The China model is apparently testing out a 4,056-mAh battery while the US model is testing out a 4,288-mAh battery. suggests this is because the US model doesn't have a physical SIM card slot and therefore has more space for a larger battery. The iPhone 17 Pro had three rear cameras: a wide-angle lens, an ultrawide and a 4x telephoto.

The iPhone's cameras are another feature that may receive a significant upgrade in 2026. Macworld reports that Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro Max could feature a variable-aperture camera, similar to how lenses on DSLR and mirrorless cameras work. This allows people greater control over depth of field and image brightness.

The Information also reported that at least one rear camera on the 18 Pro would have a mechanical iris, another name for a lens' aperture. We've seen variable aperture phone cameras before. 4, which sharpened the subject more.

But the S9's image sensor was tiny, and photos from it were just OK. 0, on the 2023 13 Ultra and 2024 14 Ultra, but each had a large 1-inch-type sensor that could take advantage of it. Sadly, to the frustration of 's Andrew Lanxon, the company removed the variable aperture on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

Macworld also says the telephoto lenses on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could get a faster aperture, letting more light hit the sensor for better low-light shots. Additionally, reports that all iPhone 18 models (except the 18E) would get upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing cameras for improved selfies. We should note that the iPhone 17 series and Air all have Apple's new Center Stage selfie camera, which has a square 18-megapixel sensor and can take either horizontal or vertical photos, no matter which way you're holding the phones.

There is also some speculation that the iPhone's Camera Control button could be simplified. Instead of capacitive and pressure sensors, it might just be pressure-sensing for all of the Camera Control's functions. The new iPhone models run iOS 26 and have either an A19 or A19 Pro chip: (left to right) iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro.

As the iPhone 17 lineup uses the A19 and A19 Pro chips, it makes sense that the upcoming iPhone 18 would use Apple's new A20 processor. The rumored chips are said to use a new process called Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module, which incorporates the RAM directly into the same wafer as the CPU, GPU and neural engine. This apparently results in better efficiency and faster performance because everything would be located on the same chip.

We're also hearing that the iPhone 18 lineup could use Apple's next-gen C2 modem chip for improved wireless connectivity. Additionally, That said, a recent rumor on Weibo suggests that the iPhone 18's specs could be "downgraded" to be closer to an iPhone 18E model. That could also be more focused on reducing production costs on the back end.

recently reported that the iPhone 18 could have 12GB of RAM, according to a research note Although this is not exclusive to the iPhone 18, Apple also recently announced that Google's Gemini will be running its AI-powered Siri later this year. Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook sent up a warning flare that the company would be increasing prices due to the "RAMageddon" component shortage, and sure enough, the next week prices jumped on Mac, iPad, Home Pod and Apple TV models. Although that doesn't promise more expensive iPhones, pointed to Chinese leakers who purport to confirm that you'll pay more for the new models.

Although no one would argue that iPhone models have been cheap, the prices have stayed fairly consistent for years. Now, with a possible iPhone Ultra foldable in the works, the top end of the line could push well past the $2,000 mark. The logo for Apple's fall 2026 event invitation is interactive: a heat signature stays where you touch or click and hold.

For years, Apple has held its annual iPhone launch event in the fall. But according Bloomberg has reported that Apple plans to release the more expensive iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and its new foldable in fall 2026, while the more affordable iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18E (and maybe a potential iPhone Air 2) could debut six months later in February or March 2027. Seeing as Apple has released the iPhone 16E and 17E in the spring of 2025 and 2026, that's not a surprising development.

It does mean, however, that if you're holding out for a more affordable iPhone, you could have to wait until next year to plan your purchase.