iPhone 18 Pro is still weeks away, but these 5 rumours hint it is worth waiting

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro is still weeks away, but leaks already hint at some of its biggest upgrades in years. From a variable aperture camera and bigger battery to the A20 Pro chip and a smaller Dynamic Island, here's everything rumoured so far.

In Short

• The iPhone 18 Pro is rumoured to feature a variable aperture camera
• This could offer better low-light photography
• Apple could power the phone with the new A20 Pro chip built on TSMC's 2nm process

The countdown is on. Apple is expected to launch its next generation of flagship iPhones next month, and if the rumours are anything to go by, the iPhone 18 Pro could arrive in the second week of September, possibly between 8 and 12 September. While Apple fans and tech enthusiasts are eagerly waiting to see what the company has planned this year, the rumour mill is also working overtime. From a next-generation Apple Silicon chip and a smaller Dynamic Island to an upgraded camera system and a bigger battery, rumours suggest the iPhone 18 Pro could bring several notable upgrades.

Of course, we'll only know what actually makes it to the final product when Apple officially unveils the phone. But that has not stopped the rumours from building excitement. While none of them has been confirmed by Apple, many come from reliable analysts and supply-chain sources, making them difficult to ignore. So, here are the five biggest iPhone 18 Pro rumours that suggest it could be worth waiting for.

iPhone 18 Pro India price rumours

But first, the price. Reports suggest the iPhone 18 Pro series could cost up to Rs 20,000 more in India than the current models, pushing prices well beyond the iPhone 17 Pro's Rs 1,34,900 starting price. In the US, estimates range from a $100-$200 increase, with some analysts predicting an even steeper jump.

The increase looks almost inevitable given the ongoing RAM crisis and memory chip shortage, both of which have driven up component costs across the industry. Even so, if the rumours turn out to be true, the upgrades could well justify the higher price, making Apple's next-generation flagship a more compelling upgrade despite the extra cost.

Camera that could work more like a DSLR

If there is one rumoured upgrade we're looking forward to, it's the main camera. Reports claim Apple may finally introduce a variable aperture system, allowing users to adjust how much light enters the lens. If true, it would be a first for an iPhone and could improve low-light photography, portraits and depth effects, while also offering greater flexibility in bright conditions.

The rest of the camera hardware is expected to remain largely familiar to iPhone 17 Pro. Leaks suggest Apple will stick with a triple 48-megapixel rear camera setup, along with the same 18-megapixel front camera.

Bigger battery, especially for the Pro Max

A bigger battery is always a welcome upgrade, and if the rumours are true, the iPhone 18 Pro Max could finally bring in a noticeable boost in battery life. Better battery performance? Yes, we're all for it.

According to reports, the iPhone 18 Pro Max may pack a battery as large as 5,425mAh in the eSIM-only version, while models with a physical SIM slot could feature a 5,235mAh unit.

The only trade-off? A slightly thicker and heavier phone. But if that extra weight translates into several more hours of battery life, well there could be less to complain about.

Familiar design, but a smaller Dynamic Island

The iPhone 17 Pro brought a noticeable design refresh, so Apple is not expected to completely redesign the iPhone 18 Pro. Instead, reports suggest the company will focus on refining what is already there.

The Pro and Pro Max are tipped to retain their 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays while switching to more efficient LTPO+ OLED panels that could offer improved brightness and better power efficiency.

Another most talked-about change expected with iPhone 18 Pro is a smaller Dynamic Island. Apple could reportedly make this possible by moving some Face ID components under the display. Leaks also point to new colour options, including Dark Cherry, Light Blue and Silver-Gray, along with a cleaner-looking rear finish. Apple is also said to be tweaking the Camera Control button by removing touch gestures while retaining pressure-based controls.

A20 Pro could be the biggest performance upgrade

Every year, Apple introduces a faster and more efficient chip with its new iPhones, and this year is expected to be no different. The iPhone 18 Pro is widely tipped to be powered by Apple's next-generation A20 Pro chip, which is rumoured to be built using TSMC's 2nm manufacturing process. If true, it would be Apple's first iPhone chip based on the newer node, promising better performance and improved power efficiency.

Reports also suggest Apple could improve thermal management with a vapour chamber cooling system. That could help the iPhone 18 Pro sustain performance during gaming, intensive workloads and AI-powered tasks while keeping temperatures under control.

New modem could improve connectivity

Apple is also tipped to continue expanding its in-house silicon with a new C2 modem, expected to deliver faster and more efficient 5G performance. Some reports even suggest limited satellite-based 5G connectivity in areas without traditional cellular coverage. Alongside that, Apple is also rumoured to introduce a new N2 wireless connectivity chip.

Do keep in mind that none of these features has been confirmed by Apple. For now, they remain rumours based on leaks, analyst predictions and supply-chain reports. But if even a handful of them turn out to be accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro could bring meaningful upgrades across photography, battery life, performance and connectivity. And for many users, that alone could be enough to make Apple's next flagship worth waiting for.

- Ends