iPhone 18 release date expectations, price estimates, and upgrades
The iPhone 17 for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
iPhone 18: what to expect
What's expected to change vs iPhone 17:
- Faster and more power-efficient A20 chip (2nm process)
- Overall design to remain familiar
- Apple may also include an iPhone 18 Plus or iPhone Air 2 with the iPhone 18
- RAM upgrade
- Some rumors indicate a smaller Dynamic Island
- Tweaked Camera control button
- Slimmer bezels
- No upgrades in cameras expected thus far
- iOS 27 and personal Siri with a standalone app
- May share manufacturing process with the iPhone 18e
Expected release timeline:
- Expected to come in the spring of 2027.
- Apple is rumored to change its iPhone releases, and that's why the base iPhone 18 may come in the spring, instead of the fall with the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro.
Expected price:
- Potentially the same as the iPhone 17's (starting at $799).
- Chip shortage could influence a slight price hike.
Jump to:
iPhone 18 release date
If the expected changes in Apple's iPhone release schedule are to be believed, the iPhone 18 is likely to come in spring 2027, accompanied by an iPhone 18e.
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 18 | Spring 2027* | Spring 2027* |
| Apple iPhone 17 | September 9, 2025 | September 19, 2025 |
| Apple iPhone 16 | September 9, 2024 | September 20, 2024 |
| Apple iPhone 15 | Sept 12, 2023 | Sept 22, 2023 |
* - probable dates
A recent report corroborates this and suggests the reason Cupertino may have had for this new release schedule. Reportedly, Apple's move was to maximize revenue and profits from the Pro-branded iPhones.
The iPhone 18 may also be joined by the second-generation iPhone Air. The iPhone Air 2 is expected to be the super-thin 2027 model, unless the Cupertino tech giant decides to cancel it like Samsung reportedly did with the Galaxy S26 Edge.
Meanwhile, an analyst note that leaked recently brings an interesting twist: Apple may opt for an iPhone 18 Plus instead of an iPhone Air 2. That is the first time we've heard about a potential Plus model after Apple ditched it with the iPhone 17.
iPhone 18 price
Reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple may have a pleasant surprise for iPhone 18 buyers: prices may not rise.
| iPhone model | 128GB of storage | 256GB of storage | 512GB of storage | 1TB of storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 | - | $799* | $999* | - |
| iPhone 17 | - | $799 | $999 | - |
| iPhone 16 | $799 | $899 | $999 | - |
*- anticipated prices
At least, according to Kuo, the Cupertino giant may try to keep the prices as steady as possible. Apple succeeded in this strategy with the iPhone 17 series, as well as the newly released iPhone 17e.
Another analyst recently claimed that the Pro-branded models, at least their starting prices, may not get a price hike. This is also giving us hope about the 'vanilla' iPhone 18's price.
Another rumor has also claimed that Apple may use a less complicated manufacturing process for the phone to avoid price hikes.
It's important to keep in mind that the mobile world is currently in a difficult situation. The massive boom in AI has caused a major shortage of RAM chips, which is driving up memory prices.
As a result, almost every new gadget is becoming more expensive.
Earlier rumors indicate higher-capacity models of the iPhone 18 may get a price hike.
Samsung, which is Apple's main competitor for the U.S. market, has raised the prices of the base Galaxy S26 and the Galaxy S26 Plus. The starting price of the Ultra stayed consistent, but the prices with more storage went up as well. OnePlus and Oppo are also raising prices, so do keep that in mind.
iPhone 18 camera
Concrete details about the iPhone 18's camera have not shown up online just yet. Most rumors are currently focused on the Pro models, which are expected to get a lens with variable aperture.
Possibly, this pro-grade feature won't make it to the standard model.
That said, the regular iPhone 18 should still be a photography powerhouse. It will probably stick with the high-quality setup from the iPhone 17, which already boasts a great 48 MP ultra-wide lens and a capable selfie camera.
There's also talk the front camera could see a bump to 24 MP.
iPhone 18 expected camera setup:
- 48 MP main camera
- 48 MP ultra-wide cameras
- 24 MP Center Stage front camera
To put things into perspective. The current iPhone 17 handles tricky lighting and high-contrast scenes beautifully. For video, it currently maxes out at 4K at 60 fps, which is perfect for most people, even though it lacks the 129 fps Pro modes.
iPhone 18 storage
In 2025, Apple officially retired the 128 GB entry-level storage with the iPhone 17. Because of that shift, you can expect the iPhone 18 to start with at least 256 GB of storage as the new standard.
iPhone 18 expected storage capacity:
- 256 GB
- 512 GB
Unfortunately for digital hoarders, though, a 1 TB option may not be available for 2027's base iPhone.
Meanwhile, rumors are now claiming that even the base iPhone 18 will come with 12 GB of RAM. If true, that would be great for multitasking and AI.
iPhone 18 design
The iPhone 17. | Image by PhoneArena
The iPhone 18 is currently expected to come with the same design as its predecessor, albeit with some small tweaks here and there.
One small change may be a simplified Camera Control button. Earlier rumors hinted that Cupertino may get rid of the Camera Control button entirely, but newer leaks indicate that instead of getting rid of it, Apple may just change it a bit.
Tipster Instant Digital suggests that Apple may simplify the iPhone 18's Camera Control button. Instead of using a touch-sensitive surface, the button may rely only on pressure.
This change may lead to a sleeker design and lower costs, but the button would still be capable enough to recognize light taps vs. firm pressure.
The front of the iPhone is where things get even more interesting, as rumors about the Dynamic Island are continuing to show up.
Some earlier rumors claimed that the element may become smaller thanks to Apple being able to put some Face ID sensors under the display. Later, more leaks claimed that the Dynamic Island wasn't going to change.
Then, however, IceUniverse contradicted this, sharing an image showing the potential difference.
The Dynamic Island may potentially get smaller. | Image by Ice Universe
For now, the buzz about a smaller Dynamic Island seems focused on the Pro models, especially with the leaked screen protector above. It's still a mystery if the base model will get the same upgrade or stick with the current size.
As for the rest of the design, expect the familiar mix of aluminum and glass and some fresh colors.
European buyers are said to get eSIM-only iPhones with the iPhone 18, just like buyers in the States. That would help the Cupertino giant offer larger batteries by taking advantage of the free space that used to be reserved for the physical SIM slot.
There are also reports that Apple may use a less complex (and cheaper) manufacturing process for the base iPhone 18. We don't know its exact impact yet, but it could mean the standard model borrows more parts from the iPhone 17 instead of getting a total overhaul.
This may help Apple keep the price steady despite the rising component costs.
iPhone 18 display
The iPhone 18 may sport the same 6.3-inch OLED Super Retina XDR screen as its predecessor, the iPhone 17.
| Phone Name | Screen size | Brightness |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 | 6.3-inches* | 3,000* |
| iPhone 17 | 6.3-inches | 3,000 |
* - anticipated sizes
The iPhone 17 brought an upgrade in the display size from the 6.1-inch one on the iPhone 16. The screen also had thinner edges. The 18 is likely to inherit this display.
One feature you can likely count on is ProMotion. Apple finally brought the 120Hz refresh rate to the standard model with the iPhone 17, and it is expected to keep it for the iPhone 18.
This means you'll continue to enjoy super-smooth scrolling, fluid animations, and the convenience of an always-on display.
If Apple decides to include an iPhone 18 Plus model, as some rumors indicate, it's likely to come with a 6.7-inch display just like the iPhone 16 Plus, and it will likely also support ProMotion.
iPhone 18 battery
The iPhone 17. | Image by PhoneArena
So far, leaks are not claiming a bump in battery size for the iPhone 18.
The iPhone 17's battery capacity is 3,692 mAh, and in terms of performance, it does overall the same job as the iPhone 16.
iPhones are usually excellent at optimizing performance and battery life, and Apple's new Apple Intelligence-powered battery features help you conserve even more battery life. We expect those to be present on the iPhone 18, and even improved potentially.
We also have the 2nm A20 chip that's potentially going to power the iPhone 18, which will be an efficient chip. This could also help prolong battery life on the iPhone.
iPhones are usually excellent at optimizing performance and battery life, and Apple's new Apple Intelligence-powered battery features help you conserve even more battery life. We expect those to be present on the iPhone 18, and even improved potentially.
We also have the 2nm A20 chip that's potentially going to power the iPhone 18, which will be an efficient chip. This could also help prolong battery life on the iPhone.
Despite that, however, iPhones are relatively behind some competitors when it comes to battery size. And Cupertino may be looking to change this. A recent rumor indicates that Apple is working on a new type of battery for the iPhone 18. Hints indicate it could be a "pure silicon" battery, which would be something entirely new on the market.
The rumor claims Apple plans to do that to celebrate the symbolic nature of the 20th anniversary model. It is not currently known if this tech would come to fruition in time for the iPhone 18 or if Apple will choose this path at all.
Meanwhile, rumor has it that iOS 27 is also going to improve the battery life on iPhones.
As for the predecessors, in our battery life tests, the iPhone 17 performed similarly to the iPhone 16, scoring 16 hours and 47 minutes of continuous browsing, 7 hours and 19 minutes of video streaming, and 7 hours and 40 minutes of gaming.
Obviously, that's far from some of its competitors like the Galaxy S25, but it's still dependable and can last through the day with regular usage.
iPhone 18 features and software
The iPhone 18 is expected to come with iOS 27. iOS 26 brought a huge redesign along with the rebranding of all Apple OSes. There's the new Liquid Glass look and tweaks across the board. According to reports, iOS 27 may keep the Liquid Glass look, but Apple may give you a slider to help you fine-tune the Liquid Glass appearance on the iPhone 18 to your liking.
Mark Gurman from Bloomberg suggests Apple is refining Liquid Glass for the release of iOS 27. The update will likely include a system-wide slider that lets you adjust glass effects across the entire UI.
These changes should make the overall software become more polished.
Siri is also expected to receive a massive upgrade with iOS 27. The assistant may get a new brain powered by a custom Gemini AI model.
There may even be a dedicated Siri app that looks like the Messages app so you can revisit past conversations.
Additionally, Siri should finally gain the ability to perform tasks inside other apps and better understand context.
iPhone 18 hardware and specs
iPhone 18's expected specs:
- CPU: Apple A20 chip (2nm process)
- RAM: 12 GB
- Battery: around 3692 mAh
- Charging: 40W wired, 25W wireless, MagSafe, Qi2
- Storage: 256, 512GB
- Camera setup: 48 MP main, 48 MP ultra-wide, 24 MP selfie
The iPhone 17 brought an upgrade in charging speeds and can now charge at up to 40W with a compatible charger, which is double the charging speed of the iPhone 16.
Currently, leaks are quiet on whether Apple is planning another upgrade to the iPhone 18 charging speeds.
Of course, the iPhone 18 will likely support MagSafe and Qi2 charging. Maybe we'll see an upgrade in the wireless charging speed (maxes out at 25W on the iPhone 17), but it's a bit early to tell for certain. We do hope for improvements on that front, though, as some Chinese brands now offer 100W charging and huge batteries thanks to SiC batteries.
Currently, leaks are quiet on whether Apple is planning another upgrade to the iPhone 18 charging speeds.
Of course, the iPhone 18 will likely support MagSafe and Qi2 charging. Maybe we'll see an upgrade in the wireless charging speed (maxes out at 25W on the iPhone 17), but it's a bit early to tell for certain. We do hope for improvements on that front, though, as some Chinese brands now offer 100W charging and huge batteries thanks to SiC batteries.
As for RAM, the iPhone 17 kept the 8 GB of RAM, while all the other models in the iPhone 17 series jumped to 12 GB. Potentially, Apple may upgrade the iPhone 18's RAM to 12 GB in 2027 (or 2026, depending on when it releases the base iPhone 18).
And now, a report indicates we may really see the RAM increase we've been hoping for. The report corroborates 12 GB of RAM for all iPhone 18 models, which, coupled with the 2nm A20 chip, should make this phone feel like a solid performer.
Should I wait for the iPhone 18?
- You should wait for the iPhone 18 ifyou're currently rocking the iPhone 15 or an older model. We may see some additional enhancements with the iPhone 18, so it may be worth the wait. Also, you should wait for the iPhone 18 if you are not due for an upgrade immediately.
- You should not wait for the iPhone 18 ifyou like what the iPhone 17 brings. Furthermore, there's no reason to wait if you need a new phone immediately. After all, there are still a few months to wait for the iPhone 18, and if you're in a dire need of an upgrade, you may go for the iPhone 17. We don't expect huge differences between the 17 and 18 anyway.
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