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)
- Design remains familiar
- Tweaked Camera control button
- Slimmer bezels
- No upgrades in cameras expected thus far
- Apple may also include an iPhone 18 Plus or iPhone Air 2 with the iPhone 18
- iOS 27 and upgraded, personal Siri with a standalone app
Expected release timeline:
- Expected to come in spring of 2027 or together with iPhone 18 Pro in fall 2026.
- Apple is rumored to change its iPhone releases, and that's why the base iPhone 18 may come in the spring.
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, we may see the base iPhone 18 together with the iPhone 18e in spring 2027.
| 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 new report corroborates this rumor and attempts to answer why Apple may have chosen to release the base iPhone 18 in the spring. Reportedly, Apple made this decision to optimize resources and maximize revenue and profits from the premium models: the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.
The iPhone 18 may also be accompanied by the second-generation iPhone Air. The iPhone Air 2 may be the super-thin model from Apple for 2027, unless Apple chooses 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 release.
However, this note could be pure speculation by the analyst, so keep that in mind.
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 the analyst, 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. This could very well mean Apple may keep the pricing of the iPhone 18 steady as well, despite the circumstances in the industry.
Currently, we have a tricky economic situation when it comes to phones. Because of generative AI demands, the industry is experiencing a shortage of RAM chips, which is in its turn causing price hikes for these components. And that's, unfortunately, affecting all smartphone makers.
Currently, we have a tricky economic situation when it comes to phones. Because of generative AI demands, the industry is experiencing a shortage of RAM chips, which is in its turn causing price hikes for these components. And that's, unfortunately, affecting all smartphone makers.
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 recently 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, so there's that.
iPhone 18 camera
There are no leaks on the iPhone 18's camera system just yet. The majority of rumors are currently focused on the Pro-branded models, and some upgrades there are mentioned (including variable aperture on the iPhone 18 Pro), but for the base iPhone 18, everything's still pretty much under wraps.
The iPhone 17, on the other hand, brought some noticeable camera upgrades. There was a new 48 MP ultra-wide camera and an improved selfie camera with Center Stage support. Given these huge upgrades, it's likely that Apple will stick with the same camera setup for the iPhone 18.
Some rumors do claim that we may see a 24 MP front camera upgrade, though.
iPhone 18 expected camera setup:
- 48 MP main camera
- 48 MP ultra-wide cameras
- 24 MP Center Stage front camera
For reference, the iPhone 17 did really well in our camera tests. The iPhone 17's camera produced great dynamics in well-lit scenes and decent low-light images. As for video, the iPhone 17 maxes out at 4K@60fps, which is not the 120fps of the Pro-branded model but still great for the regular user.
iPhone 18 storage
iPhone 18 expected storage capacity:
- 256 GB
- 512 GB
In 2025, Apple removed the entry-level 128 GB of storage for the iPhone 17, giving fans the option to choose between 256 GB and 512 GB.
The same storage options may be available for the iPhone 18 as well. 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.
iPhone 18 design
The iPhone 17. | Image by PhoneArena
The iPhone 18 design will likely remain similar to previous models overall.
One change could be a slightly tweaked Camera Control button. Earlier rumors hinted that Apple may get rid of the Camera Control button altogether, but newer leaks indicate that instead of getting rid of it, Apple may just change it a bit.
The new approach would be similar to that on devices like the Oppo Find X8 Ultra. With that phone, pressure sensors can distinguish between light taps, firm presses, and sliding gestures.
The Dynamic Island at the front of the phone may not change, however. Some earlier rumors claimed that the element may become smaller thanks to Apple being able to put some Face ID sensors under the display. That was also rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models as well.
However, the majority of more recent leaks claim that the Dynamic Island isn't going to change with the 18 series.
Apart from that, we expect the same glass sandwich approach to the iPhone 18 design. Colors are yet to leak currently, but we do expect some new and potentially trendy ones. Apple is rumored to experiment with some unorthodox colors for the Pro models, and this may or may not influence the base 18 color choices.
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.
iPhone 18 display
The iPhone 18 is likely going to 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.
One big upgrade that came with the iPhone 17 was the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate – a feature that used to be reserved to the Pro models. Now, it’s on the regular model too, and the iPhone 18 should keep it. The feature makes everything feel smoother, from scrolling to animations, and it works with the always-on display as well.
We've not heard about significant changes in the display department with the iPhone 18 at the moment. Nevertheless, it's going to be a beautiful and premium display as usual.
iPhone 18 battery
The iPhone 17. | Image by PhoneArena
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.
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.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that Apple has planned a refinement for Liquid Glass with iOS 27. You'd reportedly get a system-wide slider for you to adjust the level of the glass effects across the board. Other incremental improvements to the interface are also reportedly in the works. Overall, the quality of the experience should get elevated with iOS 27.
In the meantime, Siri is also finally getting the promised upgrade with iOS 27 (reportedly). The new Siri may get a new "brain" powered by a custom Gemini AI LLM. There may also be a standalone app for Siri that resembles the Messages app. You'll also reportedly be able to get back to previous conversations from there.
Siri should also gain the ability to handle tasks in other apps with iOS 27, as well as gain contextual awareness.
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).
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.
Latest rumors about the iPhone 18:
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