iPhone 18 Pro Could Be a Much Bigger Upgrade Than We Expected

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series is only a few weeks away, and this year I think there is more to look forward to than usual. We have heard about the new A20 Pro chip, bigger batteries, better displays and a smarter Siri, while the Pro Max could finally bring variable aperture to an iPhone camera. None of this is official yet, but the leaks are starting to paint a very interesting picture.

Let's start with the chip. The A20 Pro is expected to use TSMC's new 2nm process, with leaks pointing to around 18% better performance and 30% higher power efficiency. Apple may also use a new way to package the chip and memory, which should help keep heat under control during gaming and AI tasks.

To be honest, I care more about that extra efficiency than another benchmark record. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is also tipped to pack a battery between 5,200mAh and 5,567mAh, depending on the version. That could be around 9-12% larger than last year's model.

Add the more efficient chip and Apple's new C2 modem, and battery life could become one of the biggest upgrades this year.

Here's the thing, though. The most interesting hardware change may be exclusive to the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Apple is reportedly adding a variable aperture to its main camera. This would let the lens change how much light reaches the sensor. A wider opening can help at night and add more background blur, while a smaller one can keep more of the image in focus.

Samsung actually used a similar idea on the Galaxy S9 years ago, so Apple isn't breaking new ground here. Still, with today's larger sensors and better image processing, I am curious to see what Apple can do with it.

The other big upgrade is software. The iPhone 18 Pro models will ship with iOS 27 and the new Siri AI, which Apple announced at WWDC. Siri will be able to understand what is on your screen, use personal context and perform tasks inside apps. There will even be a separate Siri app that stores previous chats, much like ChatGPT or Gemini.

Apple is also expected to use new LTPO+ displays, which can control power use at the pixel level. Combined with new M16 display material, the screens should be more efficient while also offering better color accuracy.

And yes, there is a new color. Dark Cherry is tipped to become the signature finish this year, alongside Light Blue, Dark Gray and Silver. If the leaked renders are accurate, that's probably the one I would pick too.

None of these upgrades alone will change the smartphone market. Put them together, though, and the iPhone 18 Pro series starts to look like more than Apple's usual yearly refresh. Now we just need Apple to keep the price from ruining the party.