- The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will arrive in September 2026 with a possible price increase of up to $300 due to the increased cost of memory and the new 2-nanometer chip.
- The improvements include a larger battery, a 35% smaller Dynamic Island, variable aperture on the camera, and a uniform rear design.
- Apple is delaying the standard models (iPhone 18, Air 2 and 18e) until spring 2027 to manage component shortages and focus attention on the Pro and foldable models.
- In Spain, prices could exceed 1.500 euros, although the final figure will not be confirmed until the official event.
The countdown to the new generation of iPhones has begun, and according to all the leaks, . Rumors point to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max They will arrive in September with significant changes to the battery, camera, design, and, above all, the price. The company is facing a historic rise in component costs, especially for RAM and storage, which could translate into an increase of up to $300 compared to the previous generation.
Meanwhile, Apple has decided to stagger its releases for the first time . The most premium models (Pro, Pro Max, and the highly anticipated foldable iPhone Ultra) will be unveiled in the fall, while the standard iPhone 18, the iPhone Air 2 , and the iPhone 18e won't arrive until spring 2027. This strategy responds both to the global shortage of memory chips and the need to avoid saturating the market with six devices at once.
Price: the rip-off that's coming
Analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities is the latest to put figures on the table: the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could cost between $250 and $300 more than their current counterparts . This would place the Pro's starting price around $1.299-$1.399 in the United States, a range that coincides with previous estimates from IDC and the Wall Street Journal. The main reason, according to Pu, is the increased cost of 2-nanometer processors and memory, both RAM and storage, exacerbated by the memory shortage.
In Spain, the direct conversion from dollars to euros is not automatic , as Apple applies taxes, regional costs, and its own pricing policies. Industry sources suggest the iPhone 18 Pro could cost around €1.459 and the Pro Max around €1.599, although some analysts believe the increase could be limited to about €50 if the company absorbs part of the price hike. What is clear is that the iPhone 18 Pro will be more expensive than ever, and the final price will be announced at the September event.
Battery and performance: longer battery life and a 2-nanometer chip
Battery life has always been a top priority for users, and Apple seems to have listened with a significant increase in capacity . According to leaked regulatory documents, the iPhone 18 Pro will have a 4.288 mAh battery in its eSIM version and 4.056 mAh in the standard version, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max will reach 5.567 mAh and 5.391 mAh respectively. This represents a notable jump from the 5.088 mAh of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and is partly due to a slight increase in the device's thickness.
The heart of these phones will be the new A20 Pro chip, manufactured by TSMC using 2-nanometer technology. This processor promises 15% more performance and 30% better energy efficiency compared to the A19 Pro, in addition to integrating the RAM, CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine into a single package. This architecture, combined with the low-power LTPO+ display, will allow the iPhone 18 Pro Max to unleash record-breaking 2-nanometer power , especially in demanding tasks such as 4K video recording or gaming.
Camera and design: variable aperture and smaller Dynamic Island
In terms of photography, the biggest new feature is the addition of a variable aperture on the main lens , something Apple hadn't implemented until now. This function will allow for automatic adjustment of the amount of light entering the camera, improving depth of field control and image quality in low-light conditions. The iPhone 18 Pro's camera system will be about 2 mm thicker to accommodate the new sensors, and the telephoto camera will also have a wider aperture to capture more light during optical zoom.
In terms of design, Apple has abandoned the two-tone finish of the previous generation in favor of a uniform back , with new color options such as cherry red, light blue, and silver. The Dynamic Island is reduced by 35% (from 20,7 mm to 13,5 mm wide), offering a cleaner visual experience without sacrificing functionality. The aluminum frame and Ceramic Shield 2 remain, and the weight of the Pro Max increases slightly to 243 grams due to the larger battery capacity.
Launch and availability: September for the Pro, spring for the rest
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the launch event will take place on Tuesday, September 8, or Wednesday, September 9 , with invitations sent out in late August. Pre-orders will begin on Friday, September 11, iOS 27 will be released on September 14, and it will arrive in stores on Friday, September 18. Alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple will unveil the foldable iPhone Ultra, although its release could be delayed until November due to manufacturing complexity.
In Spain, final prices will be revealed during the event, but all indications suggest the iPhone 18 Pro Max will exceed €1.500 . Those who urgently need a phone can opt for previous or refurbished models, but waiting until September will reveal the true price, AI features, and minimum storage capacity. Apple's decision to delay the standard models until 2027 reinforces the idea that this year the focus is on the high-end range and the company's first foldable phone.
With increasingly expensive memory and the ever-growing demand for artificial intelligence, the iPhone 18 Pro is shaping up to be not only smarter but also the most expensive device in Apple's history . Improvements in battery life, camera, and performance partially justify the price increase, but uncertainty surrounding the final price and the arrival of the iPhone Ultra add a complex factor for users. The only certainty is that September will bring significant new developments and that, for the first time, buyers will have to choose between two very different flagship models.
