Apple’s new iPhone 17 series is set to be released this month. As we expected, the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to feature new rear and camera designs. More significant changes are expected to be seen in the iPhone 18 models, which will be released next year.
Are you thinking about selling your current iPhone to get the new iPhone this year? Then you should hold off. You should also consider the new features that will be included in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max that are expected to be released next year. We’ve also heard that a new, higher-end iPhone model is coming in 2026. All of this information combined might make your decision a little more tentative.
1. Under-display Face ID technology
Face ID under the display is anticipated to be a feature of the iPhone 18 Pro versions. This technology will place the TrueDepth camera under the display, but the front camera will still be visible.
These models will reportedly ditch the Dynamic Island and use a pinhole camera hole. However, other sources disagree. According to display analyst Ross Young and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Dynamic Island will not disappear completely, but will be smaller.
2. C2 Modem
Apple is reportedly planning to include its next-generation C2 modem in the iPhone 18 Pro models. The chip is an upgrade over the C1 modem that debuted in the iPhone 16e as Apple’s first proprietary cellular modem. The C2 modem will support mmWave 5G in the United States, which was not included in the C1. It is also expected to offer faster internet speeds and better battery efficiency.
Apple’s long-term plan to lessen its need on Qualcomm includes the modem roadmap. At the moment, Qualcomm provides 5G modems for Apple’s remaining iPhone models. Apple has been working on its own cellular chips for years to gain more control over power management and performance.
3. A20 Chip
Apple’s A18 Pro chip, which will power the iPhone 20 Pro models, is reportedly manufactured using TSMC’s third-generation 3nm process. This technology is the same as the A19 Pro chip in this year’s iPhone 17 Pro. So the performance improvements between the A19 Pro and A20 Pro chips are not expected to be significant in terms of CPU and GPU.
However, the A20 Pro chip uses a more advanced chip packaging method called CoWoS (Chip on Wafer on Substrate). This technology allows the processor, memory, and Neural Engine to be more closely integrated, which should improve performance in AI-related tasks. This could be part of Apple’s plan to support Apple Intelligence in future iPhones.
4. New camera image sensor
Samsung is reportedly developing a new three-layer image sensor for the iPhone 18. Dubbed PD-TR-Logic, the sensor is said to combine three layers to provide faster camera response, reduced noise, and improved dynamic range. The news comes from a source known as “Jukanlosreve,” who said the sensor is being developed specifically for Apple’s 2026 iPhone lineup.
Sony has been Apple’s sole supplier of camera image sensors for many years, so Samsung’s entry would be a major change to the iPhone camera supply chain. In 2024, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expected Samsung to start shipping 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera sensors to Apple around 2026 (the time the iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to be released).
5. Foldable iPhone to be released in 2026
Are you tired of traditional iPhone designs? According to leaks, Apple’s first foldable iPhone will be launched in the fall of 2026, along with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. According to reports, the foldable iPhone will have a 5.5-inch display when folded and a 7.8-inch display when unfolded. Like Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, it will fold like a book, but not the Galaxy Flip.
When folded, the foldable iPhone should be between 9 and 9.5 mm thick, compared to just 4.5 mm when unfolded. So when fully folded, it will be incredibly thin. Apple has worked hard on the hinge design, so it is expected that the folding screen will be virtually invisible. It will also use under-screen cameras, and due to space constraints, it may include a Touch ID-like authentication method instead of Face ID.
The price will be very expensive. Analyst Kuo previously said that Apple could price the foldable iPhone between $2,000 and $2,500, and at that time, there had been no tariff hikes in China.
The Bottom Line
Apple is expected to introduce new iPhone models with a redesigned iPhone 18. The more expensive iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be released alongside the new foldable iPhone in the fall of 2026, as usual. But the more affordable iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e models won’t be released until spring 2027.
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