iPhone 18 Pro launch soon: Big upgrades likely but what about price?

The iPhone 18 Pro series is just around the corner. As is the case everywhere, we expect to see some big upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, but there are rumours that we may also see a hike in price.The iPhone 18 Pro may be more expensive. (Representational image made with AI)We are just weeks away from the launch of the next-generation iPhones – the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. While Apple has not made any official comment on the upcoming iPhones, rumours have been making the rounds for some time now. As is the case with every new iPhone generation, some big upgrades are likely in store for the iPhone 18 Pro. But you may see a big bump in price too.In case you are curious why we have not mentioned the iPhone 18 and only discussed the Pro models, it is expected that Apple is skipping the vanilla iPhone this time around. The iPhone 18 may be launched in early 2027, with a foldable iPhone likely joining the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this year.iPhone 18 Pro expected priceLet’s discuss the elephant in the room first, the price. You see, due to the memory crisis, smartphones are getting more expensive. Apple too has raised prices of iPads and MacBooks, with the iPhone also tipped for a hike. This could mean that the iPhone 18 Pro may cost more than the iPhone 17 Pro.To give you some context, the iPhone 17 Pro was launched in India at Rs 1,34,900, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max starting at Rs 1,49,900. It is likely that the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max may cost more. As such, you may want to start saving now if you are planning to upgrade. The launch is expected to happen in September this year, when Apple usually announces the new iPhones.iPhone 18 Pro design and coloursApple is not expected to completely redesign the phones after the changes made with the iPhone 17 Pro series. You can expect to see a familiar rear camera plateau on the iPhone 18 Pro, but likely in new colours. The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to come in multiple new shades – Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Grey and Silver. But this also means that Cosmic Orange will likely not be an option. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is tipped to be about 0.25mm thicker and 7 grams heavier, likely to make room for a larger battery, but more on that later.iPhone 18 Pro displayComing to the front, Apple is expected to continue with the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro but with some changes. As per leaks, the Dynamic Island may be about 35 per cent narrower, giving you more screen real estate.Screen sizes will likely be the same as last year – a 6.3-inch OLED panel for the iPhone 18 Pro and a 6.9-inch OLED display for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. But Apple may use new LTPO Plus panels, which may bring more efficiency improvements.iPhone 18 Pro camerasWhile there may not be a huge upgrade to the display, the iPhone 18 Pro may get something new when it comes to cameras. Apple is reportedly working on variable-aperture for the 48-megapixel main camera, a first for the iPhone.Unlike the fixed aperture on current models, this system could physically control how much light enters the lens. In plain terms, that should help in tricky lighting, reduce overexposed outdoor video and make portrait blur look more natural and less like software doing theatre.It is still unclear whether users will control the aperture manually or whether Apple will handle it automatically. The rest of the iPhone 18 Pro cameras will likely be the same as last year, with two 48-megapixel sensors – an ultrawide and a 4x telephoto rounding up the rear setup. You can also expect to see the 18-megapixel centre stage selfie camera on the iPhone 18 Pro phones.iPhone 18 Pro performanceThe iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to run on Apple’s A20 Pro chip. If leaks are accurate, this chipset will be built on TSMC’s 2nm process rather than the current 3nm technology. That is, the chip should pack more transistors, allowing for better speed and improved power efficiency.This means that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max can bring noticeable performance improvements compared to last year. And, this may also help when it comes to on-device AI performance – think Siri AI. The iPhone 18 Pro will likely come with 12GB of RAM.iPhone 18 Pro battery and chargingBattery life could be another practical win, especially on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. As per leaks, the Pro Max may come with a 5,567mAh cell for eSIM models and 5,391mAh for global Nano-SIM variants. For context, the eSIM-only iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 5,088mAh battery. The iPhone 18 Pro may also see a similar bump. Even if the numbers settle lower than the rumours suggest, a more efficient A20 Pro chip, LTPO Plus display, should help both phones last longer.iPhone 18 Pro software and Siri AIThe iPhone 18 Pro is expected to run on iOS 27 which packs in some big upgrades, including Siri AI. Siri AI works on Google’s Gemini models, and can do a lot more than before. You can also expect more Apple Intelligence features across the board, such as creating images, AI suggestions for replies, and more.For now, all of this remains unconfirmed, so you should be take it with a pinch of salt. But if these leaks hold up, the iPhone 18 Pro may pack in some meaningful upgrades for you – a more useful camera, a better display and longer battery life, all of this combined with a faster chipset and more AI features. This could make the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max suitable upgrades, granted that you may have to pay a higher price tag.- EndsPublished By: Armaan AgarwalPublished On: Jul 28, 2026 13:46 IST