iPhone 18 Pro rumoured to get 3 big upgrades this year

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to launch soon, and new reporting suggests the Pro line is set to pull further ahead of its siblings in three distinct ways, two exciting for buyers, and one considerably less so.

Cameras have long been where Apple draws the sharpest line between its standard and Pro iPhones, and that pattern looks set to continue. Leaks point to two pro-exclusive camera upgrades this year: a variable-aperture main camera and a wider-aperture telephoto lens.

The variable aperture feature is reportedly staying off the rumoured iPhone Ultra, possibly due to the physical space it requires, while the telephoto lens remains absent from non-Pro models entirely, with this year's wider aperture aimed at improving low-light photography.

Battery life has consistently been a Pro-line strength, and the iPhone 18 Pro appears poised to extend that advantage further. Both the Pro and Pro Max are rumoured to receive larger batteries, with the Pro Max seeing the more significant jump.

One leak suggests the eSIM version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max could carry a 5,567mAh battery, a notable increase over the 5,088mAh cell in last year's Pro Max. Combined with efficiency gains from the rumoured A20 Pro chip and C2 modem, this could make for the best battery performance yet in Apple's Pro lineup.

The less welcome change concerns cost. Analysts widely expect both new Pro models to launch at higher starting prices, with the iPhone 18 Pro projected between $1,299 and $1,399, and the Pro Max between $1,399 and $1,499.

That would put the entry-level Pro model several hundred dollars above the current iPhone Air, and close to double the price of the iPhone 17.