A new research note from GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu has revealed several major upgrades that could be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, expected to launch later this year. According to Pu, Apple is planning five notable improvements that focus on design, cameras, and next-generation silicon. One of the most visible changes could be a smaller Dynamic Island. Pu claims that Apple plans to move the Face ID flood illuminator under the display, reducing the size of the cutout at the top of the screen.
While the Dynamic Island itself is expected to remain, this shift would allow for a cleaner and more immersive display experience, something Apple has been gradually working toward over the past few generations. Camera upgrades are also on the table. The 48MP main camera on the iPhone 18 Pro models is rumored to gain variable aperture support. This would allow the camera to physically adjust how much light enters the sensor, improving low-light photography and giving Apple more flexibility in depth-of-field control.
Variable aperture has been seen on some Android flagships, and its inclusion would mark a meaningful step forward for Apple’s computational photography capabilities.
Pu’s report also highlights three important chips that will power the Pro lineup. The headline upgrade is the A20 Pro chipset, which is said to be manufactured using TSMC’s first-generation 2nm process. Along with a new packaging design, this should deliver noticeable gains in performance and power efficiency, continuing Apple’s yearly silicon advancements.
In addition to the main processor, the iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to feature a new N2 wireless chip. This chip will succeed the N1, which currently handles Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support in the iPhone 17 family and the iPhone Air. While specific details about N2 are still unclear, it is widely expected to bring improved wireless stability, faster speeds, and better energy efficiency.
Perhaps the most significant internal change is the move to Apple’s C2 modem. Until now, Apple’s in-house modems have been limited to niche models like the iPhone 16e and the iPhone Air. With the C2 modem arriving on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple would finally bring its own modem technology to the mainstream Pro lineup, potentially improving connectivity and reducing reliance on third-party suppliers.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to debut in September alongside the iPhone Fold, while the standard iPhone 18 may launch next spring with the iPhone 18e.