iPhone 18 Pro: Anticipated Features and Upgrades for 2026

According to a comprehensive report by MacRumors, the iPhone 18 Pro is set to introduce several significant hardware improvements when it launches in 2026. Drawing from various industry analysts and sources, this article explores the key features expected in Apple's next premium smartphone.

Under-Display Face ID Technology

The iPhone 18 Pro will likely incorporate under-display Face ID technology, a feature originally expected for the iPhone 17 Pro but delayed to 2026, according to display industry analyst Ross Young. This advancement would allow Apple to reduce the size of the Dynamic Island or potentially replace it with a small hole for the front camera only, similar to Android competitors like the Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25.

The iPhone showcases upcoming under-display Face ID technology, anticipated for the iPhone 18 Pro after a delay from 2026.

Variable Aperture Camera System

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will feature a 48-megapixel Fusion camera with variable aperture capabilities. This significant upgrade will enable users to manually control the amount of light passing through the camera lens to the sensor.

In bright environments, users can narrow the aperture to prevent overexposure, while in darker settings, they can widen it to capture more light, reduce noise, and produce brighter images. This marks a departure from the fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture found in the iPhone 14 Pro through iPhone 16 Pro models.

Samsung's Advanced Image Sensor

Breaking from Apple's long-standing relationship with Sony as the exclusive supplier of iPhone camera sensors, Samsung Electronics is reportedly developing a new three-stage stacked camera sensor for the iPhone 18 Pro. According to Taiwanese media outlet DigiTimes, this advanced sensor will improve camera responsiveness, reduce noise, and increase dynamic range.

Industry tipster Jukanrosrev suggests Samsung is developing a "PD-TR-Logic" camera sensor with a triple-layer circuit. Ming-Chi Kuo also predicts Samsung will supply Apple with a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera sensor around 2026, coinciding with the iPhone 18 Pro launch.

iPhone 18 Pro C2 Modem Chip

Following Apple's introduction of the custom C1 modem chip in the iPhone 16e, GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu reveals that the second-generation C2 modem will debut in the iPhone 18 Pro. The C2 is expected to deliver improved speed and power efficiency compared to its predecessor while adding support for millimeter wave (mmWave) connectivity in the United States.

A close-up view of Apple's custom C1 modem chip, first introduced in the iPhone 16e, as anticipation builds for the C2 modem's debut in the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro.

A20 Pro Processor

The iPhone 18 Pro will likely feature the A20 Pro chip manufactured using TSMC's third-generation 3nm process. While this is the same process used for the A19 Pro chip in the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro, potentially resulting in modest performance improvements, the A20 Pro is expected to incorporate TSMC's advanced CoWoS (Chip on Wafer on Substrate) packaging technology.

This advanced packaging method will enable tighter integration between the processor, integrated memory, and neural engine components, potentially enhancing Apple Intelligence features and overall system efficiency.