The iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be released this year! Curious what you can expect? These will be the most important features of the iPhone 18 Pro (Max).
New features iPhone 18 Pro (Max)
The new year has begun and 2026 promises to be another busy year for Apple. Traditionally, new iPhones are planned for September and that will be no different in 2026. Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max that month. The devices receive important improvements both above and under the hood. We have listed the seven most important expected functions of the iPhone 18 Pro (Max) for you!
1. New housing
With the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max we saw a modified housing for the first time in years. Apple is changing the design of the iPhone again this year, because the housing of the iPhone 18 Pro (Max) is said to be more of a single whole. The color differences between the glass and aluminum parts are reduced so that they fit together better. We also see the wider camera island on the iPhone 18 Pro (Max).
2. New colours
The modified housing of the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max will most likely come in a new color. The expected colors of the devices are burgundy red, coffee brown and purple. These shades are reflected in the glass and aluminum part of the housing, so that these parts fit together well. In 2026 we will again see striking colors on the Pro models, as was also the case with the iPhone 17 Pro (Max) in 2025.
3. Bigger battery
Apple is not only adjusting the colors of the housing, the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max will also be slightly thicker than the current iPhones. According to rumors, this is due to the larger battery in the new iPhones. This ensures a longer battery life, but also takes up more space in the housing. The iPhone 18 Pro Max may therefore be the heaviest iPhone Apple has ever made.
4. Smaller Dynamic Island
Rumors have been going around for years that Apple is working on a smaller Dynamic Island, which we will probably finally see with the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. With current iPhones, the Dynamic Island is still necessary to hide the front camera and Face ID sensor. The latter disappears under the screen on the iPhone 18 Pro (Max), making the Dynamic Island smaller. This means you have more space on the screen with the Pro models.
5. A20 Pro chip
Apple is making the necessary changes to the outside of the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and this also applies to the inside. The devices are equipped with the completely new A20 Pro chip. This processor is faster and more energy efficient, allowing the iPhone 18 Pro (Max) to effortlessly handle heavy tasks. We see no changes in the RAM, which remains 12 GB of RAM.
6. Adjustable aperture
One of the most important parts of the Pro models are the cameras, which receive a notable upgrade with the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. According to rumors, these will be the first iPhones with an adjustable aperture. With current iPhones you cannot adjust the aperture, but with the iPhone 18 Pro (Max), Apple is introducing a mechanism that makes this possible. This way you will soon be able to determine how much light falls on the camera sensor and what the depth looks like in a photo.
7. Camera controller
Apple introduced the camera control with the iPhone 16 series and also brought the new button to the iPhone 17 series. Not a fan of the button? Then we have good news, because Apple is adjusting the camera control for the iPhone 18 Pro (Max). It will become easier to use the button, so you will no longer have to swipe over the camera controller to activate certain functions. Instead, you can only press the button on the iPhone 18 Pro (Max), but this is reportedly not at the expense of camera control functions.
Release of the iPhone 18 Pro (Max)
If the rumors are true, we will see major changes with the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max later this year. The devices will have a new design, faster processor and improved camera controller. We still have to wait a while for the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max, because the new iPhones will not be released until September. Don’t want to miss any of that? Then sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter so you stay informed about the iPhone 18 Pro (Max)!
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