New iPhone Pro: everything you need to know about the most advanced range

The The new iPhone Pro models aim to become the center of the Apple ecosystem for the coming years. Between Apple Intelligence features, connectivity improvements, and upcoming changes in design, camera, and battery, the Pro family will set the pace in the high-end market. Even current models, like the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, already showcase many of the technologies we'll see refined in the next generation.

In this article we review in detail what the [unclear] offers today. iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max and what to expect from the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro MaxHardware leaks, release date, photography, screen, battery, connectivity, and expected prices. If you're thinking about upgrading your phone or simply want to stay up-to-date on what's happening with the iPhone Pro, here you'll find a very complete overview and Tips and tricks to get the most out of your iPhone.

Apple Intelligence and connectivity: the common foundation of the new iPhone Pro

The latest iPhone models come loaded to the brim with Technologies designed to make everyday life easierApple is betting heavily on Apple Intelligence, a suite of artificial intelligence features integrated directly into the system: writing tools to improve text, visual intelligence features capable of understanding the content of your photos or documents, and a much more proactive system to help you with everyday tasks, as well as incorporating tips for save data and battery in daily use.

Meanwhile, connectivity has taken a significant leap forward. The latest iPhones boast Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 5G and eSIM compatibilityThis translates into very fast wireless connections with added security. The use of eSIM facilitates switching operators, using multiple numbers on the same phone, and, above all, greatly simplifies connecting your mobile phone when traveling abroad.

iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: Release date and Apple's strategy

The next big protagonists will be the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Maxwhose launch is slated for September 2026. Everything points to Apple maintaining its fall keynote at Apple Park, with a presentation in September and availability in the following days, following the usual pattern that it dominates in terms of marketing and logistics.

What's really striking is that, according to fairly solid leaks, The standard iPhone 18 wouldn't go on sale until spring 2027This would leave the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max as the only models of the new generation on display for several months, sharing the spotlight only with the brand's highly anticipated foldable iPhone.

This move fits with a very clear strategy: prioritize the Pro range, where the highest margins and most loyal users are concentratedIndustry analysts expect the iPhone 18 Pro Max, in particular, to have a significant commercial appeal among those seeking a top-of-the-range device without compromises on screen, camera, or battery.

The planned schedule would, for the time being, be organized as follows: September 2026 for the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone, and a second wave in spring 2027 with the "plain" iPhone 18 and, possibly, a new generation of the iPhone Air.

This focus on the Pro segment not only maximizes revenue, but also It triggers media interest and searches related to rumors and leaks.Something that Apple knows how to handle perfectly to maintain the anticipation for months.

iPhone 18 Pro design: continuity with interesting nuances

In terms of design, Apple isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. The iPhone 18 Pro would follow a similar design to the iPhone 17 Pro.Maintaining the metal structure, the prominent rear camera module and the two screen sizes that have already become established in the range: 6,3 inches for the Pro model and 6,9 inches for the Pro Max.

The main difference would be in the details. Leaks suggest a visually more uniform rear finishWithout the two-tone effect seen on the 17 Pro between the back glass and the frame, Apple has reportedly adjusted the tone and treatment of the glass to give the whole unit a more understated and visually compact appearance.

The color palette would be testing a New red finish for the iPhone 18 ProThis would serve as a striking option alongside the more classic tones. It wouldn't be surprising if this color were also used as a marketing tool, as the company has done on other occasions with special red versions.

As for the larger model, rumors suggest that the The iPhone 18 Pro Max would gain a few tenths of a millimeter in thickness and a few grams in weight.The thickness has decreased from 8,75 mm to approximately 8,8 mm, and the weight has increased from 233 g to 240 grams. These changes are almost imperceptible in hand, but they fit with the idea of ​​housing an even larger battery.

Dynamic Island and under-display Face ID: what seems to work and what doesn't

One of the most debated points surrounding design is the reduction in the size of Dynamic IslandSome reports suggested a reduction of up to 35%, which would leave this "island" at the top of the screen around 13,5 mm wide compared to the current 20,7 mm. However, more recent sources maintain that Apple has delayed this change for a later generation, coinciding with an anniversary iPhone.

What is practically certain is that The Face ID feature, completely hidden under the screen, will not be coming to the iPhone 18 family.Although there have been many rumors about this technology, it seems the system is not yet ready to guarantee the quality and reliability that Apple demands. For now, the current approach with visible sensors integrated into the Dynamic Island will be maintained.

iPhone 18 Pro displays: familiar sizes, more brightness per inch

On the front we would find two 120Hz LTPO OLED panels, very much in line with current standards, with 6,3 inches for the iPhone 18 Pro and 6,9 inches for the iPhone 18 Pro MaxThe ProMotion refresh rate would remain key to delivering smooth animations, smoother gameplay, and a more enjoyable overall experience, adapting the frequency according to the content to save battery.

Beyond the sizes, what has been leaked so far suggests that Apple It would maintain its policy of requiring very high brightness levels to its suppliers, with particularly ambitious goals for this generation. Although specific numbers haven't been detailed, it would make sense for it to maintain or even improve upon the level achieved by the iPhone 17 Pro, which already offers peak brightness of up to 3.000 nits outdoors on its Super Retina XDR Pro display.

In the case of the current 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max models, the technical specifications mention HDR ProMotion 120 Hz panels, with a resolution of 2.868 x 1.320 pixels In the large size, typical contrast ratio is 2.000.000:1, typical brightness is 1.000 nits, peak brightness is 1.600 nits in HDR, and up to 3.000 nits in sunlight. This data serves as a reference point to imagine what Apple can achieve with the next generation of displays.

As is typical of the Pro range, The always-on display would still be part of the packageallowing you to view notifications, widgets and other information without fully turning on the panel and intelligently adjusting power consumption.

A20 Pro chip, 2 nanometers and integrated memory: the great internal leap

If there's one area where the iPhone 18 Pro promises to make a difference, it's on the inside. Everything indicates that this generation will debut the A20 Pro chip, manufactured using TSMC's 2-nanometer processJust as the A17 Pro was the first to use 3nm, the A20 Pro would open the door to the next node, with estimates of up to 15% more performance and around 30% more energy efficiency compared to the A19 Pro.

This leap allows for easier handling of intensive loads such as console-level gaming, high-resolution video editing, or local AI processing without spiking power consumption and temperature. To maintain that performance, improvements to the cooling system are also being discussed, with cooling solutions that reduce thermal throttling during long sessions.

Another major innovation would be in the chip's packaging itself: Apple would be betting on technology WMCM (Wafer Level Multi Chip Module)This integrates RAM directly onto the same wafer as the processor. This reduces the physical distance between the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and memory, improving access speeds and freeing up internal space for the battery or other components.

It is expected that The entire iPhone 18 family will feature 12GB of unified RAMThis will help with both multitasking and artificial intelligence tasks. However, the 2nm process is considerably more expensive: TSMC has reportedly informed Apple of a cost increase of at least 50% compared to the 3nm process, which could reserve the A20 Pro for Pro models, leaving a "non-Pro" A20 chip for future, more affordable models.

In the current generation, the iPhone 17 Pro works with the A19 Pro chip, a 6-core CPU (2 performance and 4 efficiency)It's paired with a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine with hardware-accelerated ray tracing. This combination already delivers spectacular performance for games, professional apps, and Apple Intelligence, so it can serve as a benchmark for what the A20 Pro aims to surpass.

Cameras in the iPhone 18 Pro: variable aperture and stacked sensors

Photography will once again be one of the strongest points of the Pro range. Rumors agree that the A major new feature of the iPhone 18 Pro will be a main camera with variable aperture.This system would allow users to manually adjust how much light enters the sensor, similar to the aperture of a DSLR camera, something that has not been seen on an iPhone until now.

Thanks to this variable aperture, the user could to control exposure, background blur, and depth of field with much greater precisionIn low-light conditions, the aperture could be opened wider to capture more information, while in bright scenes it could be closed to gain sharpness and detail across the entire frame. Samsung already tried something similar with the Galaxy S9 years ago, although they eventually abandoned it; the question is what practical use and software integration Apple will give it to make it meaningful in everyday life.

At least one of the Pro models would incorporate a Samsung develops a new three-layer stacked image sensorwith improved dynamic range and reduced digital noise in challenging situations. This stacked architecture allows the sensor to read information more quickly and efficiently, which is especially useful for night photography and high-quality video.

The telephoto lens would also receive some TLC. It is expected. a larger aperture in the telephoto lens To capture more light in dark scenes and improve shutter speed, reducing camera shake. Additionally, Apple is reportedly considering including a teleconverter to further increase the optical zoom range, although details of exactly how this would be implemented in a smartphone are still unclear.

Everything points to the iPhone 18 Pro's camera setup being the most versatile ever released by Apple, with a system designed to content creators, mobile photographers, and users who want an experience close to that of a professional camera without leaving your pocket.

Current camera system in the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max

While we wait for those changes, the iPhone 17 Pro series has already made huge strides in photography. The Pro Max model, for example, boasts a 48MP Pro Fusion camera system which functions as a true all-rounder. The 48MP Fusion main camera offers a 24mm equivalent focal length, ƒ/1,78 aperture, second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, and support for 24MP and 48MP super high-resolution photos.

In addition, this main camera integrates a 12MP optical quality 2x telephoto lens (48mm, ƒ/1,78 aperture), also with sensor-shift stabilization and 100% Focus Pixels. In addition, there's a 48MP Fusion ultra-wide lens with a 13mm equivalent focal length, ƒ/2,2 aperture, 120° field of view, Hybrid Focus Pixels, and 48MP super-high-resolution photos.

The long telephoto lens is one of the main protagonists: we're talking about a 48MP Fusion telephoto lens with 100mm equivalent focal length (x4)The system features an f/2,8 aperture, Hybrid Focus Pixels autofocus, 3D sensor-shift optical image stabilization, and a tetraprism design. Building on this foundation, the system also offers an 8x optical zoom lens (200mm, f/2,8) with 12MP optical zoom and an optical zoom range from 2x out to 8x in, for a total of 16x optical zoom and up to 40x digital zoom.

In video, the iPhone 17 Pro allows Record up to 4K with Dolby Vision at 60 frames per secondWith advanced stabilization and modes like Cinema Mode, designed to give a more professional touch to mobile productions, these phones also feature next-generation photo styles, enhanced portraits with Depth Control and Focus, and while some models don't offer macro photography, the overall performance is clearly high-end.

The front camera is also impressive: in the Pro configuration we find a 18 MP camera with ƒ/1,9 aperture and features such as Center Stagewhich automatically adjusts the framing in video calls, allows for smarter group selfies and offers options such as simultaneous recording with Dual Capture.

Connectivity: C2 modem, 5G and satellite on Pro models

Another key feature of the new iPhone Pro models will be connectivity. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to debut the C2 modem, the third generation of Apple's own modemCompared to the C1 and C1X found in models like the iPhone 16e or the iPhone Air, the C2 will add 5G mmWave compatibility, bringing it closer to the performance that Qualcomm modems have offered until now in terms of speed and network stability.

The most striking function, however, would be the advanced satellite connectivityThanks to support for the NR NTN (New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks) standard, full satellite internet access would be possible even without 5G coverage. This would allow the use of Apple Maps, Photos, or even third-party apps in remote locations, in addition to the satellite emergency features introduced with the iPhone 14.

In current models, such as the iPhone 17 Pro, we already find a very complete range of options: 5G, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 6, NFC with read mode, tethering, and USB-C port compatible with USB 3In addition, there is a highly advanced positioning system with dual-frequency GPS and compatibility with multiple constellations (GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou and NavIC), designed to offer precise location even in complex environments.

Security-related features also rely on connectivity: SOS emergency via satellite and accident detection These features are already present in the iPhone 17 Pro and are expected to be retained and expanded in the next generation. In the event of a traffic accident, the phone can detect the impact and call emergency services for you, which can make all the difference in critical situations.

Battery and autonomy: towards increasingly ambitious figures

One of the most anticipated changes in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup is in the battery. Leaks suggest that the The iPhone 18 Pro Max could have a battery estimated between 5.100 and 5.200 mAhThis is a small jump compared to the 5.088 mAh battery in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Combined with the efficiency of the 2nm A20 Pro chip, the battery life of the larger model should be noticeably improved.

In practice, we speak of a Actual usage close to two days with moderate useor a full day of intensive use (gaming, streaming, photography, continuous browsing) without needing to be plugged in. Estimates mention figures around 20-25 hours of continuous video playback on the Max model, placing it among the phones with the best battery life on the market.

In the 17th generation, the official data is already very generous: Video playback for up to 31 hours and video streaming for up to 28 hours The iPhone 17 Pro Max boasts a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery and the A19 Pro chip's excellent energy efficiency. Fast charging allows you to reach approximately 50% battery in 20 minutes with a 40W or higher USB-C adapter, or in 30 minutes with a 30W or higher adapter and a MagSafe charger. There are also various methods for Transferring battery power between iPhones when the situation requires it.

Regarding wireless charging, it remains the same. MagSafe compatibility up to 25W using a 30W or higher adapter. All of this is managed with algorithms designed to extend battery life, preventing it from remaining at 100% for too long when it's not needed.

iOS, Apple Intelligence, and smart features

On the software front, the future iPhone 18 Pro would come from the factory with iOS 27, the version that Apple will present at WWDC in June 2026 It will be released to the public in September alongside the new phones. As with every year, this version will bring improvements in design, privacy, and, above all, integrated artificial intelligence.

The current generation is already paving the way with iOS 26In the iPhone 17 Pro, this system introduces the Liquid Glass interface, a visual redesign that refreshes the experience without breaking what is familiarApple Intelligence is also enhanced with more writing features, new lock screen customization tools, polls and customizable backgrounds in Messages, advanced call filters, and many more small convenience-oriented improvements.

Apple Intelligence, in particular, is set to be one of the major differentiators of the Pro range: It helps you write and rewrite texts, interprets the context of your photos and documents, and is capable of automating tasks without making things too complicated for the user. All this with a strong focus on privacy, processing as much as possible on the device itself.

Safety and accessibility features also feature prominently. In addition to satellite SOS and accident detection, the iPhone Pro models include Facial recognition with the TrueDepth camera, hearing aid compatibility, and a LiDAR scanner for advanced augmented reality experiences and improvements in focus and portraits.

Key specifications of the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max

While we wait for the 18th generation, it's worth remembering what the iPhone 17 Pro offers today, because it sets the foundation upon which what's to come will be built. The iPhone 17 Pro features a 6,3-inch Super Retina XDR Pro display with ProMotion up to 120 Hz and a maximum brightness of 3.000 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright daylight.

Its chassis opts for a forged aluminum unibody designIt combines durability with a premium feel in hand. Protection is provided by Ceramic Shield, present on both the front and back, with a new Ceramic Shield 2 on the front that, according to Apple, triples scratch resistance compared to previous generations, while on the back, shatter resistance is quadrupled.

Inside, as we have already seen, works the A19 Pro chip with 6-core CPUIt's powered by a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine. This combination is designed to deliver consistently high performance, with a focus on graphically demanding games and AI tasks. Vapor cooling helps keep temperatures under control, allowing for extended sessions with minimal performance drop-off.

In terms of memory, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is sold with Internal capacities of 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB and up to 2 TBAll with fast storage. The weight is around 204 grams for the smaller model and slightly more for the Pro Max, with very compact dimensions for the screen size they offer (approximate height of 15 cm and thickness of 0,88 cm in the 6,3-inch model).

Battery life is another of its strong points: the 4.832 mAh battery in some models and up to 5.088 mAh in the Pro Max translates into Up to 31 hours of video playback and 28 hours of streamingThis clearly places them at the top of the market in terms of durability.

Resistance, safety and other practical details

All current and future iPhone Pro models are designed to withstand heavy daily use. The technical specifications mention IP68 certified water and dust resistance, sufficient to withstand short immersions and splashes without problem, always within the limits set by the standard.

Physical and digital security is very well protected. In addition to what has already been mentioned. facial recognition using TrueDepth cameraThe devices integrate system-level layers of protection designed to keep your data safe. Apple insists that privacy is not an add-on, but a core part of the iOS and hardware design, which translates into encryption, permission controls, and advanced options for managing what your apps share and how. recover and protect a stolen or lost mobile phone.

Another increasingly important aspect is the flexibility offered by the eSIMBeing able to activate or change operators without the need for physical cards makes life much easier for those who travel, those who use work and personal lines on the same device, or those who want to take advantage of occasional promotions from different operators.

Finally, we must not forget the role of The Apple ecosystem as a whole: Apple Watch, AirPods, iPad, Mac and, on the horizon, the foldable iPhoneThe new iPhone Pro models are designed with this total integration in mind, allowing you to continue tasks from one device to another, share content with a couple of taps, and take advantage of features like Continuity or Handoff so that the entire environment works as a unit.

With everything the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max already offer, and what's shaping up for the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, it's clear that The Pro range will continue to be the showcase where Apple focuses its greatest advances.Bright screens, increasingly efficient chips, cameras geared towards professional photography, more comprehensive satellite connectivity, and a strong commitment to artificial intelligence integrated into iOS. If you're looking for the most advanced iPhone possible, the present and future of the Pro line have all the ingredients to continue dominating the high-end market for quite some time.