iPhone 18 Pro is coming in few weeks, 8 things you need to know about it before launch

The iPhone 18 Pro could bring some of the biggest changes we've seen on Apple's Pro iPhones in years. From a faster A20 Pro chip and bigger battery to a new camera setup, here's what could be coming.

In Short

• iPhone 18 Pro could get a faster and more power-efficient A20 Pro chip
• A bigger battery and new C2 modem could improve battery life
• The Pro Max may get an exclusive variable-aperture camera

Apple’s big reveal is inching closer in September, the month when the company is set to unveil its next-generation iPhone 18 Pro lineup. If leaks are anything to go by, we may see the most meaningful Pro upgrade in the iPhone 18 series that Apple has delivered in years. The new devices may ship with a brand-new 2nm chip, a bigger battery, a smarter camera system, and even satellite connectivity that goes beyond just emergencies.

Of course, all this extra capability doesn't come free; Apple may ask buyers to pay a fair bit more for all these extra capabilities. And don't forget the ongoing memory and chip crisis already looming over the smartphone industry, which could be one of the major reasons for this extra add-on to the price. However, it's an iPhone, and its most loyal buyers will likely pay up regardless of how steep the price climbs. So, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro.

A20 Pro chip

One of the major upgrades of the upcoming iPhone is certainly the chip. Apple is expected to introduce the A20 Pro, its first smartphone chip built on TSMC's advanced 2nm process. According to Weibo tipster Fixed Focus Digital, the chip will also use TSMC's new Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor technology and is tipped to deliver around 18 per cent higher performance than the A19 Pro while consuming up to 30 per cent less power. That's a genuinely significant jump, and it's likely to be the single biggest reason the iPhone 18 Pro feels like a real generational leap rather than a routine yearly update.

Bigger battery

Battery life, too, is set to see a solid bump, especially on the 18 Pro Max. If we go by the rumours, the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s US version could ship with a 5,425mAh battery, while the variants which will carry a physical SIM slot may come with a slightly smaller 5,235mAh cell. That's up from the 5,088mAh and 4,823mAh batteries reportedly used across iPhone 17 Pro Max variants, roughly a 10 percent increase in capacity. Combine that with the A20 Pro's improved efficiency, and real-world battery life gains could end up being even more noticeable than the raw numbers suggest.

A new in-house modem

Apple has been steadily weaning itself off Qualcomm modems, starting with the C1 on the iPhone 16e and the C1X that followed. The iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to take the next step with the C2 modem, Apple's newest in-house chip for cellular connectivity. Beyond just bragging rights, an in-house modem gives Apple tighter control over power consumption and network performance, both of which should quietly contribute to better battery life.

iPhone 18 Pro camera

On the camera front, iPhone enthusiasts could see something Apple’s Pro series has never offered in the past. That is a variable-aperture main camera, a recent leak suggests. A variable aperture lets the lens physically adjust how much light it lets in, giving photographers real control over depth of field, think stronger background blur for portraits, or keeping an entire scene sharp when needed.

Interestingly, this upgrade might not reach every Pro model. According to tipster Ice Universe, Apple could reserve the variable-aperture camera exclusively for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, since the hardware reportedly needs more internal space than the smaller Pro model can offer. That lines up with earlier supply chain leaks pointing to a Sony IMX905 sensor with variable-aperture support specifically for the larger model. Apple is also said to be exploring a wider-aperture telephoto lens and more professional controls within the Camera app.

A simpler camera control button

The Camera Control button, introduced with the iPhone 16 series, promised touch-sensitive control over things like zoom and exposure, but its more advanced gestures never quite caught on with everyone. For the iPhone 18 lineup, Apple is reportedly reconsidering the design, potentially stripping out some of the touch-sensitive elements to make the button feel simpler and more predictable to use.

An effective display and a smaller dynamic island

iPhone 18 Pro lineup display remains a talking point as it is reportedly getting an upgrade in the form of LTPO+ panels, which are reportedly being purchased by the Cupertino-based company from both Samsung Display and LG Display. The newer panel tech allows for more precise control over the OLED display, which should translate into better power efficiency and, once again, longer battery life.

There's also buzz around a shrinking Dynamic Island. Leaks suggest the pill-shaped cutout could shrink by 25 to 35 per cent, with some reports pointing to Apple moving parts of the Face ID system beneath the display to make that possible. If true, it would mark one of the more visible design changes to the iPhone's front in recent memory.

Satellite connectivity

The recent iPhones already offer satellite features, but they have largely been limited to emergency SOS and a handful of specific services. Reports now suggest Apple is working toward satellite-based 5G connectivity that could offer fuller internet access without depending on traditional cell towers. If the technology is ready in time, the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple's rumoured foldable iPhone could be among the very first devices to support it, though how useful it actually is will likely depend on satellite infrastructure and availability in each market.

What will it cost in India

As discussed earlier, all these upgrades are expected to come at a price. Current estimates suggest the base iPhone 18 Pro could start at around Rs. 1,39,900 in India, up from Rs. 1,34,900 for the iPhone 17 Pro. Some reports suggest the jump could be even steeper, potentially rising by Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 depending on the model and storage configuration. The 256GB iPhone 18 Pro is tipped to cost around Rs 1,44,900, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max could start at approximately Rs 1,54,900.

- Ends