According to Bloomberg’s reliable Apple reporter Mark Gurman, the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are shaping up to be relatively modest upgrades compared to their predecessors.
In his latest Power On newsletter (published mid-February 2026), Gurman described the iPhone 18 Pro series as essentially “minor tweaks” to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max designs and features. He drew a direct parallel to Apple’s historical “S” cycle refreshes (like the iPhone 3GS, 4S, or 5S), which typically delivered meaningful but incremental improvements rather than bold redesigns or revolutionary changes.
iPhone 18 Pro Features Minor Upgrades, A20 Chip & Variable Aperture
That said, the phones aren’t without notable internal advancements. Expected highlights include:
- A new camera system featuring variable aperture (allowing better control over depth of field and low-light performance)
- The next-generation A20 chip for improved performance and efficiency
- Apple’s custom C2 baseband chip (modem), which should bring better cellular connectivity, power efficiency, and possibly enhanced satellite features
Despite these upgrades, Gurman emphasized that the iPhone 18 Pro models are unlikely to steal the show at Apple’s anticipated fall 2026 iPhone event. Instead, the spotlight will almost certainly shift to Apple’s long-rumored first foldable iPhone (often referred to as the iPhone Fold or similar), which is expected to debut alongside the standard lineup and represent a significant leap in form factor and innovation.
This approach aligns with Apple’s occasional pattern: releasing a refined, “safe” Pro model to keep the core flagship line evolving steadily, while saving headline-grabbing changes (like a foldable design) for maximum impact.
For context, this comes amid other 2026 iPhone rumors, including potential battery capacity increases (especially on the Pro Max) and software optimizations in iOS 27 for better overall efficiency. If you’re holding an iPhone 17 Pro or debating an upgrade, the iPhone 18 Pro series might feel like a solid but not must-have step up—unless the foldable catches your interest. More concrete details will likely emerge closer to the expected September 2026 announcement.
