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iPhone 18 Pro’s 12 “Hidden” Upgrades Will Shock Apple Fans

iPhone 18 Pro leaks reveal 12 major upgrades, from under-screen Face ID to satellite web browsing and a 2nm A20 Pro chip.
Side profile of a yellow smartphone lying flat on a reflective surface, showing buttons and camera bump.

A minimalist side view highlighting the slim design and buttons of a yellow smartphone on a glossy surface.
Image Credit: Todd Jiang / Unsplash

Apple’s 2026 iPhone 18 Pro line is expected to introduce under-screen Face ID, a variable-aperture main camera and a new 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, marking the biggest hardware shift in several generations of the flagship device.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are slated for launch around September 2026, keeping 6.3‑inch and 6.9‑inch displays but moving the front camera to the top-left corner of the screen as Face ID sensors shift beneath the panel, effectively removing the Dynamic Island cutout on Pro models. Apple is also preparing a redesigned internal layout to accommodate a stacked A20 Pro processor built on TSMC’s 2nm process, a move expected to improve performance, battery life and thermal management while freeing space inside the chassis.

The camera system is set for one of its largest functional upgrades in years, with at least one rear camera gaining a mechanical iris that supports variable aperture, allowing users to adjust light intake and depth of field for photography and video. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said the main 48‑megapixel sensor on iPhone 18 Pro models will support this feature, positioning the device to compete more directly with high-end Android flagships that already emphasize optical versatility.

While the overall external design is expected to remain close to the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple is testing changes to the rear Ceramic Shield panel for MagSafe charging, including a more frosted appearance, and a simplified Camera Control button that drops swipe gestures in favor of more direct operation. The iPhone 18 Pro Max may become slightly thicker than its predecessor, a shift that could make room for a larger battery as Apple pushes more processing and AI workloads onto the device.​

Connectivity is another strategic front, with Apple reportedly planning its own C1X or C2 cellular modem alongside an N1‑series wireless chip that supports Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread for smart-home integration. The company is also working on web browsing via satellite, extending beyond the current emergency SOS positioning into always-available fallback connectivity for basic internet access when terrestrial networks are unavailable.

The under-display Face ID transition continues Apple’s multi-year effort to increase usable screen area while phasing out visible sensor cutouts, following the introduction of the notch on iPhone X and the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro. The A20 Pro shift to 2nm also underscores Apple’s reliance on TSMC for process leadership at a time when smartphone volumes are flat but premium buyers still pay for performance, battery gains and on-device AI features.

Color options under consideration for the iPhone 18 Pro series include burgundy, brown and purple, maintaining Apple’s practice of tying each generation to at least one new finish to support marketing and upsell efforts. Apple has not publicly commented on the unannounced devices, but the reported feature mix suggests the 2026 Pro lineup will be used to reset expectations around display design, camera flexibility and silicon efficiency at the top of the iPhone range.