Rumors Rated is where we assess the biggest, most interesting and sometimes bizarre rumors and claimed leaks around the upcoming tech and predicted products. We draw upon a wealth of technology experience to assess and rate which rumors and information tidbits are worth your time and attention and those that are a bit too far-fetched. If you have any tips or insider information, feel free to contact us.
The iPhone 18 series probably won’t land until September – or possibly even later in the case of the base iPhone 18 model- but we’ve already heard lots about these phones, with leaks and rumors shedding light on many of the specs the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max might offer.
Of course, this far from launch, we’d take any claims with a serious side of salt, but some of these claims sound believable, and many come from reputable sources, so they could be correct.
Below, we’ve detailed five of the biggest iPhone 18 series rumors – these being things that might actually change on the phones, rather than stay the same, and we’ve rated how likely we think they are to happen.
1. A variable aperture camera
One of the most exciting and intriguing iPhone 18 series rumors so far is that the Pro models could have a variable aperture for their main camera.
This would let you control how much light enters the lens, and in turn give you more control over the depth of field. It’s a feature that most DSLR and mirrorless cameras have, but it’s rare on smartphones, and would be a first for an iPhone.
Arguably, this could be a bit niche, since anyone who just wants to point and shoot probably wouldn’t bother adjusting the aperture, but for those who dabble with pro and manual modes, this could be a major addition.
Will we see it? Given that it is a bit niche, we’re not certain, but some credible sources have claimed we might. Apple watcher Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned that this was planned back in November, and they have a good track record.
Since then, in January 2026, we heard the same from analyst Jeff Pu (via 9to5Mac), whose track record isn’t quite as strong as Kuo's, but who is still frequently right about Apple information.
- Likelihood: 7/10
2. Under-display Face ID
For years, leakers have claimed that Apple wants to reduce the size of the camera cut-out or eliminate it entirely, but this has yet to happen. This year might be the year, though, as we’re hearing that the Dynamic Island could be smaller on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and that this might be achieved by hiding the Face ID components under the screen.
That would mean there would only need to be a visible cut-out for the front-facing camera lens, allowing for a tiny punch-hole design like we’ve seen on most Android phones.
This is a claim we’ve heard from multiple sources, including The Information and leaker Digital Chat Station, but it’s also something we heard repeatedly about the iPhone 17 series, and it didn’t happen there.
There are two ways you could look at that. On the one hand, since this has been rumored in previous years and didn’t happen, there’s arguably no reason to think it suddenly will now.
On the other hand, the fact that this claim is so enduring suggests it really is something Apple is working on, and perhaps the tech just hadn’t been perfected in time for the iPhone 17 line – in which case it might be ready to go with the iPhone 18 series.
That makes it really hard to predict whether this actually will happen in 2026, but we’d think this feature is likely to appear one day anyway.
- Likelihood: 5/10
3. A20 / A20 Pro chipsets
Will the iPhone 18 line have new A20 and A20 Pro chipsets? Yes, it almost certainly will. While a change in chipset could be one of the biggest upgrades we see on these phones, it’s also one of the most likely, since we see new A-series chipsets with each iPhone generation. So there’s no reason to think that will be different this year.
It’s possible the naming scheme will be changed, but with the iPhone 17 series having A19 and A19 Pro chipsets, the most likely outcome is that we’ll get A20 and A20 Pro chipsets this year.
Leaks suggest these could be a big upgrade, with the new chips said to be made using a 2nm (nanometer) process, down from 3nm for the A19 series. Such a shift tends to signify a big boost in power and/or efficiency.
We can’t yet be certain a 2nm process will be used, but we’re almost certain these phones will have new and more powerful chipsets anyway.
- Likelihood: 10/10
4. A simplified Camera Control button
Do you use the iPhone’s Camera Control button much? And if so, are you using it to adjust settings or just as a simple button?
If you are making full use of this tool, then you might not be a fan of one rumored iPhone 18 change, as sources suggest the base model – and potentially therefore also the Pro ones – could have a simplified Camera Control key.
According to The Information, this button might lack touch sensitivity and haptic feedback, so that it essentially just acts as a basic button on the upcoming phones – it would still apparently be pressure-sensitive, but you wouldn’t be able to swipe across it.
This is a claim that leaker Instant Digital has also made, adding that it’s expensive for Apple to make in its current form. So it’s believable Apple might make this adjustment to save some money – particularly since the Camera Control button in its current form has received mixed feedback, and since smartphone prices are likely to rise this year.
On the other hand, we’re yet to hear this claim from the biggest Apple leakers, so we’d take it with a pinch of salt for now.
- Likelihood: 6/10
5. 12GB of RAM for all models
Another rumor we’ve heard is that the base iPhone 18 and the Pro models could all have 12GB of RAM. For the base model, that would be an improvement on the 8GB of the iPhone 17, while for the Pro models, it would be no change.
We’d say this sounds quite likely – Apple only boosted the Pro models to 12GB last year, and since it doesn’t give its phones yearly RAM increases, we wouldn’t expect the iPhone 18 Pro series to go above that.
As for the base iPhone 18, the last two base models had 8GB, so an increase here makes more sense – especially since it could benefit Apple Intelligence, which is expected to get a lot more capable this year with Gemini being integrated into Siri.
On the other hand, memory is also getting more expensive thanks to AI data center demands, so it’s possible Apple would choose to keep the base model at 8GB still to keep costs down.
And it’s not something that we’ve heard much about yet – South Korean site The Bell (via MacRumors) claims that the iPhone 18 will be boosted to 12GB, and Apple analyst Jeff Pi (via 9to5Mac) says the Pro models will remain at 12GB, but not many other sources have weighed in yet. But price concerns aside, this is a move that makes sense.
- Likelihood: 7/10
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