173: iPhone 18 Pro Looks Like a Huge Upgrade

Nov 21, 2025

Exciting upgrades for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are on the horizon! Anticipate new color options like burgundy and purple, plus a thicker design for better battery life. Face ID may shift under the display, and the front camera is set to get a boost to 24MP. The main camera could introduce a variable aperture for stunning low-light photography. Also, look forward to simplified camera controls and a powerful A20 chip for enhanced performance. Get ready for a whole new level of smartphone experience!

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INSIGHT

Three iPhones And Pro Focus

Apple will likely release three new iPhone models next fall: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable.
The Pro models remain the primary focus for major features and sales.

INSIGHT

New Color Tests And Apple Data

Apple is testing burgundy, brown, and purple as possible Pro colors but likely will pick only one.
Color choices align with Apple's market research and fashion trends rather than pure novelty.

INSIGHT

Rear Glass Could Become Translucent

The iPhone 18 Pro may lose the two-toned rear or adopt translucent color-matched glass.
A translucent back could reveal MagSafe components and create a more uniform aesthetic.

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On this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through all of the new features and improvements expected to come to next year’s iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro Max models.

Apple’s next-generation iPhones are less than a year away and we already have a good idea about what to expect based on corroborated leaks, rumors, and reports from reliable sources.

While the overall design of the ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro is expected to remain largely the same as that of the iPhone 17 Pro, it could feature translucent or color-matched rear glass, as well as a thicker design to accommodate a bigger battery. Apple is rumored to be testing at least three new color options for the ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro models, including burgundy, brown, and purple, but only one of these is expected to be carried forward to production.

The front of the device is expected to see Face ID moved under the display for the first time, resulting in a smaller Dynamic Island and potentially a left-aligned punch-hole camera. The front-facing camera is also expected to see a bump up to 24-megapixels.

The main rear camera could receive a new three-stack image sensor from Samsung and it is highly likely to get a variable aperture. A variable-aperture system physically adjusts the lens opening, letting more light in for low-light shots or narrowing the opening for brighter scenes and deeper depth of field. Apple is also expected to "simplify" the Camera Control by removing its capacitive functions, moving it to rely on pressure alone.

It should also sport the A20 Pro chip, which will be Apple’s first based on TSMC’s 2nm process for enhanced performance and efficiency. A custom "C2" chip is expected to displace Qualcomm’s 5G modem, with support for mmWave 5G in the United States. In addition, Apple apparently plans to add support for 5G networks that operate via satellites rather than Earth-based towers.

The ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro Max are expected to debut in the fall of 2026 alongside the first foldable iPhone. The ‌iPhone‌ 18e, ‌iPhone 18‌, and iPhone Air 2 are likely to follow in the spring of 2027.