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iPhone 18 Pro Max rumors
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
iPhone 18 Pro Max rumored to get variable aperture camera, bigger battery, and A20 Pro chip. The Pro Max may be the only Pro model with the camera upgrade.
Background
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in fall 2026, with rumors pointing to a thicker design, a larger battery, and a new A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process. The Dynamic Island may shrink, and the Pro Max could feature a variable aperture camera, a first for iPhones, but possibly exclusive to the larger model.
How it unfolded
- Aug 17, 2026Cult of Mac reports iPhone 18 Pro models will be thicker, with Pro Max possibly 0.35 inches thick and 0.53 pounds, due to a bigger battery.
- Aug 18, 2026PCMag notes leaks of a 5,567mAh battery for the US Pro Max, a nearly 10% increase over the 17 Pro Max.
- Aug 19, 2026MacRumors roundup mentions a possible three-layer stacked sensor and a variable aperture exclusive to the Pro Max, but unconfirmed.
- Aug 20, 2026Mashable and CNET report release timing: Pro models in fall 2026, standard models in early 2027; colors include light blue, silver, dark gray, dark cherry.
- Aug 21, 20269to5Mac reports iPhone 18 Pro will use Apple's C2 modem, moving away from Qualcomm.
- Aug 22, 2026Yahoo Tech reports September 2026 announcement for Pro models, with A20 Pro chip and 256GB base storage.
Who’s saying what
- Leaker
- Ice Universe claims variable aperture will be exclusive to the Pro Max, disappointing some users.
- Analysts
- Some see the Pro Max's size as an advantage for including the variable aperture technology.
- Caution
- PhoneArena argues the Pro Max's exclusivity could be a reason to cancel it, as it marks a divergence in Pro models.
Still unverified
Variable aperture exclusivity to Pro Max is based on a single leaker's claim; battery capacities vary by source and region; release dates are rumors.