iPhone 18 Pro launching tomorrow: Variable aperture camera, A20 Pro chip and more to expect

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series is almost here, but this year's launch could come with big upgrades and bigger price tag. Here's what Indian buyers should know.

In Short

• Apple hosting annual iPhone launch event on September 9
• The event will start at 10:30 IST
• iPhone 18 Pro series and foldable iPhone highly likely to debut

The wait is almost over. Apple will host its “Surprise and Shine” event tomorrow at 10am PT, or 10:30pm IST. While the iPhone 18 Pro series is highly likely to make its debut, there could be a lot more waiting in the wings, including the first-ever foldable from the iPhone maker, along with new generations of the Apple Watch and AirPods.

The event will be streamed on Apple’s website and the Apple TV app, and can also be viewed for free on Apple’s official YouTube channel.

Now, while the new iPhone lineup will obviously remain in the focus, this event is also a little more special for Apple. John Ternus will host his first major iPhone launch as CEO after Tim Cook moved into the role of executive chairman on September 1.

Now, coming to what we can expect, we’ll talk about the foldable iPhone in another story. But here, let’s take a quick look at what Apple might bring with its flagship duo: the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Do note that Apple has officially confirmed the September 9 event, but the details of the new iPhones are still based on leaks and reports.

iPhone 18 Pro series expected specifications

Design: If you’re expecting a major design overhaul, you need to tone down the expectations. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to look quite similar to the iPhone 17 Pro series, with Apple reportedly putting more focus on what’s happening inside the phone. The 18 Pro Max could, however, be slightly thicker and heavier to make room for a bigger battery.

Colours: Now for the colour palette, Apple could give the Pro models some fresh and colourful options this year, with Dark Cherry, a dark red or burgundy shade, and Sky Blue among the colours making the rounds. Silver has also been tipped, although there are conflicting reports about whether Space Black will make the cut.

Display: On the display front, Apple is reportedly sticking with the familiar 6.3-inch screen on the iPhone 18 Pro. The more noticeable change could be the Dynamic Island, which is expected to get smaller as Apple has been in reports for working towards reducing the space taken up by the front-facing sensors.

Chip: Under the hood, the iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to get Apple’s new A20 Pro chip. As you’d expect from a new-generation chip, it should bring improvements in performance and power efficiency, although Apple is yet to reveal exactly what the A20 Pro has in store. However, rumours have it that the new chip will be built using 2nm technology, which could make it faster and more power-efficient while also helping improve battery life. The move to a more advanced manufacturing process could, however, add to the cost of the new iPhones.

Modem: The new Pro models are also expected to feature Apple’s next-generation C2 modem. Apple has been moving towards using more of its own modem technology, and the C2 could bring better connectivity as well as improved power efficiency.

Camera: While the fresh colours and powerful chip are already making us excited about the Pro series, photography lovers might also be in for a treat. Rumours suggest that the biggest camera upgrade on the iPhone 18 Pro series could be a variable-aperture main camera. Unlike a fixed aperture, this new lens will allow the flagship iPhones to adjust how much light enters the lens depending on the shooting conditions. In everyday use, that could mean more flexibility in different lighting conditions and greater control over depth of field. Reports have also pointed to a three-layer stacked sensor.

But this possible camera upgrade could come with a catch. Some rumours suggest that the variable-aperture camera may be exclusive to the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Camera Control: The Camera Control button could also get a small but interesting change. Apple is reportedly simplifying the button after some users complained about accidental camera launches. So, while this may not sound like a major upgrade, it could make the feature less fiddly to use.

Battery: The iPhone 18 Pro Max could be the bigger winner when it comes to battery. Reports suggest Apple could pack in a battery of around 5,567mAh, which would be a sizable upgrade. The trade-off? That bigger battery could make the Pro Max slightly thicker and heavier than its predecessor.

What will be the price of the iPhone 18 Pro series in India?

This year, the price could be one of the more interesting things to watch for with the new generation of iPhones. The industry is dealing with a sharp rise in RAM costs amid the ongoing memory shortage, and Apple is not immune to the crisis. The company has already adjusted pricing across select MacBook and iPad models to cushion the impact of higher supply-chain costs. Now, rumours suggest that the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro series could follow suit.

In the US, rising bill-of-materials (BOM) estimates suggest the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro could see its base price climb to around $1,099 to $1,199. For Indian buyers, that shift could translate into a noticeable price hike. Industry reports indicate Apple could raise prices by roughly 10 per cent to 20 per cent (an increase of Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000), though the company may absorb a portion of the higher component costs to avoid dampening consumer demand.

For reference, the iPhone 17 Pro debuted in India at Rs 1,34,900 for the baseline 256GB configuration. If Apple passes on the added costs, the iPhone 18 Pro could start closer to Rs 1,44,900 to Rs 1,49,900, with the Pro Max potentially pushing well past the Rs 1.60 lakh mark.

- Ends