iPhone 18 Release Date, Expected Models & Updates: Everything We Know So Far

iPhone 18 Release Dates

Apple is expected to prioritise its three most expensive phones during the September 2026 launch.

The standard iPhone 18 will reportedly be delayed until 2027 as Apple concentrates its manufacturing capacity on the Pro models and its first foldable. Rising component and memory costs are also said to be affecting Apple’s release plans.

The foldable could be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models but released later. Reports have mentioned October, December and limited initial availability.

iPhone 18 Pro And iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumoured Specifications

iPhone 18 Pro Display

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to retain a 6.3-inch display. The iPhone 18 Pro Max should retain its 6.9-inch display.

Both phones are expected to use new LTPO+ OLED panels supplied by Samsung Display and LG Display.

LTPO+ should give Apple more precise control over the display’s refresh rate and light output. The main benefit should be lower power consumption, particularly when the always-on display is active.

ProMotion, an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz and the always-on display should all remain standard on the Pro models.

There is no dependable report suggesting Apple will change the screen resolutions.

Will The iPhone 18 Pro Have A Smaller Dynamic Island?

Several reports claim the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will have a smaller Dynamic Island.

Apple is reportedly moving the Face ID flood illuminator beneath the OLED panel. The remaining TrueDepth hardware and front camera would stay inside a smaller display cutout.

Ice Universe claims the new Dynamic Island will measure approximately 13.5mm across. The equivalent cutout on the iPhone 17 Pro reportedly measures around 20.7mm. That would make the iPhone 18 Pro cutout approximately 35% narrower.

Leaked CAD files have also shown a smaller Dynamic Island.

This is not settled, however. Digital Chat Station claims Apple has delayed the smaller Dynamic Island until the iPhone 19 generation.

A completely uninterrupted display with every Face ID component and the front camera hidden underneath it is not expected on the iPhone 18 Pro.

iPhone 18 Pro Design

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to keep the basic design of the iPhone 17 Pro range.

That means:

• An aluminium frame
• A large horizontal rear-camera plateau
• Three rear cameras
• Ceramic Shield on the front and back
• A separate rear-glass section covering the MagSafe charging area
• Camera Control on the side
• Action button
• USB-C

Apple reportedly plans to make the back of the phone look more uniform. The rear glass and aluminium frame could use more closely matched colours, reducing the two-tone appearance of the current design.

The rear Ceramic Shield section may also have a more frosted finish.

Apple is expected to continue using anodised aluminium rather than returning to titanium.

iPhone 18 Pro Dimensions And Weight

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to be thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Reports disagree about the exact dimensions. One claim puts the body at approximately 8.8mm, up from 8.75mm. Another claims it could be around 9mm thick.

The rear-camera plateau could also become approximately 2mm thicker to hold the new camera hardware.

One leak claims the larger phone could weigh around 240g. Reporting around this figure is inconsistent, with some reports incorrectly attributing it to the smaller Pro. The final weight remains unclear.

The extra thickness is expected to provide space for a larger battery, updated cameras and cooling hardware.

iPhone 18 Pro Colours

Apple is reportedly testing four finishes:

• Dark Cherry
• Light Blue
• Dark Gray
• Silver

Dark Cherry is expected to be the new headline colour. It has been described as a dark red with purple tones rather than a bright PRODUCT(RED)-style finish.

Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue are expected to be discontinued.

Colour leaks can change late in development, so the final range may differ.

A20 Pro Processor

The iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and foldable iPhone are expected to use Apple’s A20 Pro processor.

It will reportedly be the first Apple phone chip manufactured using TSMC’s 2nm N2 process. The A19 generation uses a 3nm manufacturing process.

TSMC says its N2 process can provide up to 15% better performance at the same power level or up to 30% lower power consumption at the same performance level. These are process-level figures, not confirmed iPhone benchmark results.

The A20 Pro is also expected to use TSMC’s Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module packaging technology, known as WMCM.

WMCM allows the processor and memory to be more tightly integrated on the same wafer. This could provide:

• Faster memory access
• Better thermal control
• Lower power consumption
• More space inside the phone
• Faster local Apple Intelligence processing

Both Pro models are currently expected to have 12GB of RAM.

iPhone 18 Pro Storage

Apple is reportedly planning to start both iPhone 18 Pro models with 256GB of storage.

Expected storage options are:

• 256GB
• 512GB
• 1TB

Apple could reserve any larger storage option for the Pro Max or foldable model, but there is no reliable evidence of a 2TB iPhone yet.

iPhone 18 Pro Camera Upgrades

The iPhone 18 Pro camera is expected to receive several hardware changes.

Variable-Aperture Main Camera

The 48MP main camera could use a variable-aperture lens.

A mechanical aperture controls how much light enters the camera. Opening the aperture allows more light to reach the sensor. Closing it reduces the amount of light.

This could give the iPhone 18 Pro better control over:

• Depth of field
• Background blur
• Bright-light exposure
• Low-light photography
• Shutter speed
• Image noise

It is not clear whether Apple will let users control the aperture manually or whether the phone will select the setting automatically.

Both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to receive the variable-aperture camera.

Larger Telephoto Aperture

Apple is reportedly testing a telephoto camera with a larger aperture.

A larger opening would allow more light into the telephoto sensor, which could improve:

• Night-time zoom photographs
• Indoor photography
• Shutter speed
• Subject separation
• Image noise

No dependable report has confirmed a new telephoto resolution or longer optical zoom distance.

Samsung Three-Layer Image Sensor

At least one iPhone 18 Pro model could use a new Samsung-made three-layer stacked image sensor.

Samsung’s reported PD-TR-Logic design places more of the sensor’s processing hardware behind the photodiodes.

The claimed benefits include:

• Faster image capture
• Better dynamic range
• Reduced noise
• Faster sensor readout
• Improved performance when photographing movement

Sony has traditionally supplied Apple’s iPhone camera sensors. Using a Samsung sensor would give Apple an additional supplier.

Teleconverter System

Apple has reportedly tested a teleconverter-style optical system.

A teleconverter changes the effective focal length of a lens, allowing greater zoom reach. It normally reduces the amount of light reaching the sensor, which could explain why Apple is also testing larger apertures.

It is not known whether this system has made it into the final production hardware.

24MP Front Camera

Every iPhone 18 model could receive a 24MP front-facing camera.

The current iPhone generation uses an 18MP front camera. Moving to 24MP could provide more detail for selfies, video calls and cropped images.

iPhone 18 Pro Battery Sizes

The latest claimed battery capacities are:

Apple can install a larger battery in eSIM-only models because there is no physical SIM tray occupying internal space.

Based on these figures, the smaller iPhone 18 Pro would receive very little additional battery capacity. The eSIM-only iPhone 17 Pro has a reported 4,252mAh battery, compared with the claimed 4,288mAh battery in its replacement.

The Pro Max would receive a much larger increase. The eSIM-only iPhone 17 Pro Max has a reported 5,088mAh cell, compared with the claimed 5,567mAh iPhone 18 Pro Max battery.

That would be an increase of nearly 10%.

The combination of a larger battery, 2nm processor, LTPO+ display and Apple C2 modem should also reduce power consumption.

These capacities have not been confirmed by Apple.

Apple C2 Modem

The iPhone 18 Pro models and foldable iPhone are expected to use Apple’s C2 cellular modem.

The C2 will succeed the C1 and C1X modems. It is expected to add:

• Better power efficiency
• Faster 5G performance
• mmWave 5G support
• Improved carrier compatibility
• Satellite connectivity
• A new mobile-network privacy setting

Apple may continue using Qualcomm modems in some countries if the C2 does not meet its performance or production requirements.

5G Internet Over Satellite

The C2 modem could support NR-NTN, which stands for New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks.

This would allow an iPhone to connect more directly to satellite-based 5G networks.

Existing iPhone satellite features are mostly limited to emergency communication, roadside assistance, location sharing and messaging. NR-NTN could eventually allow normal data connections in areas without terrestrial mobile coverage.

Reports have mentioned satellite access for:

• Web browsing
• Apple Maps
• Photos
• Third-party apps

The hardware may support these connections before the required networks and carrier services are widely available.

Limit Precise Location

Apple’s C2 modem could support a mobile-network privacy option called Limit Precise Location.

When enabled, the setting would prevent participating mobile networks from seeing the phone’s exact location. The carrier could still see the general area or neighbourhood.

The feature would require support from individual mobile networks.

Apple N2 Wireless Chip

The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to use Apple’s next-generation N2 wireless chip.

The N2 should replace the N1 chip currently responsible for:

• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• Thread
• AirDrop connectivity
• Personal Hotspot connectivity

No specific Wi-Fi or Bluetooth upgrades have been reliably reported.

Camera Control Changes

Apple is expected to simplify the Camera Control button.

The existing version combines capacitive touch sensing, pressure sensing and haptic feedback.

The iPhone 18 version could remove the capacitive sensing layer and rely entirely on pressure input. Some reports also claim haptic feedback will be removed.

The change would reduce the number of internal components and could make accidental input less common.

iPhone 18 Pro Price

Several analyst reports predict higher iPhone 18 Pro prices because of increased memory, processor and display costs.

Current US estimates include:

• iPhone 18 Pro starting at $1,299 to $1,399
• iPhone 18 Pro Max starting at approximately $1,399 or more
• Price increases of between $200 and $300 on some configurations

A 256GB starting capacity would make a direct comparison with older 128GB configurations less useful.

No reliable UK pricing has been reported.

Foldable iPhone Or iPhone Ultra

Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to arrive alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models.

Most reports refer to it as the iPhone Fold. That is a placeholder name. More recent reports claim Apple could call it the iPhone Ultra and omit the iPhone 18 number.

Apple has not confirmed the name.

Foldable iPhone Rumoured Specifications

Foldable iPhone Displays

The foldable is expected to use a book-style design.

When closed, it would have an external display measuring approximately 5.49 inches. Opening the phone would reveal a wider internal display measuring approximately 7.76 to 7.8 inches.

Claimed display specifications include:

• 2,088 × 1,422 outer resolution
• 2,713 × 1,920 inner resolution
• Approximately 4:3 internal aspect ratio
• Ultra-thin glass
• Samsung Display OLED panel
• Integrated touch sensors
• Reduced display crease

The device is expected to be wider and shorter than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold phones. Its shape may be closer to the original Google Pixel Fold.

Foldable iPhone Thickness

The foldable could measure approximately 4.5mm when open and between 9mm and 9.5mm when closed.

At 4.5mm, each half would be thinner than the current iPhone Air.

Apple is reportedly using titanium around areas placed under the greatest physical stress. Aluminium could be used elsewhere to reduce weight and improve heat dissipation.

Foldable iPhone Crease And Hinge

Apple has spent years working on the display crease and hinge.

Reported hardware includes:

• Ultra-thin glass
• A Samsung-made display panel
• Touch sensors integrated directly into the OLED panel
• A structural glass mid-frame
• Improved optically clear adhesive
• Liquid-metal hinge components

One claim puts the display crease at less than 0.15mm deep, with a crease angle below 2.5 degrees.

Reports describing the display as completely crease-free should be treated cautiously. A much less visible crease is more likely than a physically perfect flat display.

Apple has reportedly encountered hinge and display problems during test production. These issues could delay the retail release even if the phone is announced in September.

Foldable iPhone Processor And RAM

The foldable is expected to use the same 2nm A20 Pro processor as the iPhone 18 Pro models.

It could also have:

• 12GB of RAM
• WMCM integrated-memory packaging
• Vapour-chamber cooling
• 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage

The thin body makes heat management harder, which is why vapour-chamber cooling is expected.

Foldable iPhone Cameras

The foldable is expected to have four cameras in total:

• 48MP main rear camera
• 48MP ultrawide rear camera
• External front camera
• Internal front camera

It is not expected to have a telephoto camera. The optical hardware reportedly takes up too much internal space.

One report claims the internal screen will have a 24MP under-display camera. Other reports say Apple’s under-display camera is not ready, meaning both screens could use visible hole-punch cameras.

No Face ID

The foldable iPhone is not expected to support Face ID.

Apple will reportedly install Touch ID in the power button, using a similar arrangement to the iPad Air and iPad mini.

The phone’s thin design does not leave enough space for Apple’s existing TrueDepth camera system.

The foldable could still support Dynamic Island software around its hole-punch front camera, even without the normal pill-shaped Face ID cutout.

Foldable iPhone Battery

The foldable is expected to use two battery cells, with one cell installed in each half.

References to multiple iPhone batteries have reportedly appeared inside iOS 27.

Combined capacity estimates range from 5,400mAh to 5,800mAh. Other reports put the finished capacity closer to 4,900mAh, so the final figure remains disputed.

Apple is also expected to use:

• High-density battery cells
• A more efficient 16nm display-driver chip
• A 2nm processor
• An efficient Apple C2 modem
• eSIM instead of a physical SIM tray

Foldable iPhone Software

Apple is reportedly modifying iOS 27 to support the foldable.

Expected software changes include:

• Two iPhone apps running side by side
• Sidebar layouts similar to iPadOS
• Apps resizing between the inner and outer displays
• Support for different hinge positions
• Support for more than one built-in display
• New developer APIs for larger layouts

The foldable will still run iOS rather than iPadOS.

It is not expected to run iPad-only apps. Developers will instead be able to modify their iPhone apps for the larger display.

iOS 27 code reportedly contains references to:

• foldState
• angleDegrees
• Multiple built-in displays
• Two internal batteries

These references do not confirm a retail product, but they match the reported hardware.

Foldable iPhone Repairability

The foldable may use a more modular internal design than competing folding phones.

Reported changes include:

• Motherboard located in the right side of the phone
• Volume-button cables routed upward
• Fewer cables crossing behind the folding display
• Separate internal sections for the display and batteries
• Easier access to replaceable components

None of this has been independently tested.

Foldable iPhone Colours

Apple is expected to use a limited colour range.

Reported options include:

• Silver or white
• Black, dark blue, indigo or space grey

Some reports claim there may be no true black option. The darker model could instead use an indigo finish similar to Deep Blue.

Foldable iPhone Price

Current price estimates vary widely:

Other estimates include:

• $1,800 to $2,000 from UBS analysts
• $2,000 to $2,500 from Ming-Chi Kuo
• Approximately $2,000 from Bloomberg
• Approximately $2,400 from Fubon Research
• Average selling price of around $2,500 from IDC
• Highest configurations approaching $3,000

The safest conclusion is that Apple’s first foldable will probably start at around $2,000 or more.

No reliable UK price has appeared.

Standard iPhone 18

The standard iPhone 18 is expected during the first half of 2027 rather than September 2026.

Fewer details are available because production is further away.

iPhone 18 Rumoured Specifications

The design is expected to remain close to the iPhone 17.

The iPhone 18 could receive the smaller Dynamic Island planned for the Pro phones, but most reports about this display change have focused on the Pro range.

iPhone 18 Display

Apple is reportedly demanding higher brightness from its iPhone 18 display suppliers.

A separate cost-reduction report claims Apple could use a lower-specification panel to keep manufacturing costs under control.

These reports conflict. There is no reliable final brightness figure.

ProMotion is likely to remain, but this has not been directly confirmed.

iPhone 18 Processor

The standard iPhone 18 is expected to use the 2nm A20 processor.

Apple could use a cut-down version with a four-core GPU instead of the five-core GPU expected in more expensive models.

This would allow Apple to use the same basic chip design while separating standard and Pro performance.

iPhone 18 RAM

Reports disagree over the amount of memory.

One claim says all main iPhone 18 models will have 12GB of RAM. Ming-Chi Kuo says the standard iPhone 18 will have 9GB.

Either would be an increase over the 8GB used in the standard iPhone 17.

The difference could affect Apple Intelligence support. Some locally processed iOS 27 features reportedly require at least 12GB of RAM, including more advanced Siri voice controls and improved on-device dictation.

iPhone 18 Camera

No dependable rear-camera specifications have been reported.

The phone is expected to retain a dual-camera arrangement, most likely consisting of a main camera and ultrawide camera.

The front camera could increase from 18MP to 24MP.

iPhone 18 Cost-Cutting Changes

Apple is reportedly trying to bring the standard iPhone 18’s manufacturing cost closer to the iPhone 18e.

Possible changes include:

• More shared components between the two phones
• A lower-cost display
• Reduced peak brightness
• A cut-down A20 GPU
• Simplified Camera Control
• Greater use of Apple’s own modem hardware

These changes remain unconfirmed.

iPhone 18e

The iPhone 18e is expected during the first half of 2027.

Reported specifications include:

• 6.1-inch display
• 2nm A20 processor
• 9GB of RAM
• 24MP front camera
• Apple C2 modem
• Shared components with the standard iPhone 18
• Limit Precise Location support
• Simplified Camera Control or no Camera Control

No reliable information is available about the rear camera, battery capacity, storage or price.

The design is expected to remain based on Apple’s lower-cost iPhone format rather than the Pro models.

Second-Generation iPhone Air

The second-generation iPhone Air is the least certain phone in the planned range.

It was reportedly scheduled for September 2026, but Apple delayed it after lower-than-expected demand for the first model.

Current reports point to a possible release during the first half of 2027 alongside the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e.

Possible changes include:

• A second rear camera
• Improved battery capacity
• Better cooling
• Updated A-series processor
• Apple C2 modem
• The same thin-body design

None of these specifications has been firmly established.

Apple could also delay the phone again, change its screen size or cancel the planned version.

Which iPhone 18 Rumours Are Most Believable?

The most widely supported claims are:

• Apple will split the iPhone 18 launch between September 2026 and the first half of 2027.
• The iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and foldable will arrive first.
• The standard iPhone 18 will move to 2027.
• The Pro models will retain 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays.
• The A20 Pro will use TSMC’s 2nm process.
• The Pro models will have 12GB of RAM.
• The iPhone 18 Pro will have a variable-aperture main camera.
• The iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a larger battery.
• Apple will use its own C2 cellular modem.
• The foldable will use a book-style design with approximately 5.5-inch and 7.8-inch displays.
• The foldable will use Touch ID instead of Face ID.
• The foldable will have two rear cameras and no telephoto camera.
• The foldable will cost approximately $2,000 or more.

The least certain claims include:

• Exact prices
• Exact battery capacities
• The final foldable name
• The Dark Cherry colour
• A completely crease-free folding display
• An under-display selfie camera
• Full internet access over satellite
• The exact size of the Dynamic Island
• The final amount of RAM in the standard iPhone 18
• Whether the second-generation iPhone Air will launch in 2027