iPhone 18 Pro Max: The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is looking to be one of the most exciting Apple upgrades in a long while based on some leaked information and assessments from various market analysts. The device is expected to be launched in September 2026 and come along with its little brother Pro and other unconfirmed Apple releases. The device may come with some changes in display technology, processors, camera capabilities, battery life and design elements in a bid to revitalize the premium market of smartphones.
iPhone 18 Pro Max: Display
The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max is also expected to feature the similar 6.9-inch LTPO OLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, similar to the formerly launched model but will also feature an unwrapped front panel. Rumors also suggest the feature of an under-display Face ID and the removal of the pill cutout design for the Face ID setup or the punch-hole cutout design but will probably feature the former with the Dynamic Island cutout but will feature a much smaller design or the punch-hole cutout that will be positioned inside the top-left corner of the device.
iPhone 18 Pro Max: Reduced Cutout & Dynamic Island Stays
There are numerous rumors and reports to state that while the visible hardware hole for the front camera can shrink, Apple isn’t killing Dynamic Island, just repositioning this software element alongside or around the new camera layout to retain familiar iOS features while shrinking the front cutout footprint.
iPhone 18 Pro Max: Camera Feature (Expected)
Photography is expected to be one of the many highlights and rumors suggest a triple 48MP camera setup featuring a periscope telephoto lens and a main camera with a variable aperture. The inclusion of the variable aperture feature will provide better control over the amount of light allowed. This is a sign of things coming full circle for high-end phones, as everyone is going the way of DSLRs.
iPhone 18 Pro Max: Design & Processor (Expected)
Internally, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is rumored to feature Apple’s brand new A20 Pro processor based on TSMC’s latest 2nm technology. The upcoming latest-generation processor may offer 15 percent faster performance and 30 percent improvement in power efficiency over its predecessor A19 processor. This improvement may be attributed to its state-of-the-art packaging technologies that include tighter integration of RAM and the CPU/GPU.
iPhone 18 Pro Max: Battery (Expected)
Battery life could get an upgrade as well. Early leaks suggest a larger ~5,100 mAh battery, marginally bigger than the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s, which could improve endurance under heavy use, fast charging, or for power-hungry tasks like 5G and on‑device AI processing.
iPhone 18 Pro Max: Colour Options (Expected)
Apple is also rumored to offer different colors for their upcoming model like Burgundy, brown and purple variants have been spotted in internal shots. This is unusual for the normally muted Pro line. This could appeal well to those looking for a level of personalization for their flagship device.
iPhone 18 Pro Max: Launch Timeline (Expected)
It has become tradition for Apple to unveil iPhones every September and the expectation is that the iPhone 18 lineup will be no exception in 2026. If there is going to be a staged rollout of the major new models, then they will supposedly start with the Pro and Pro Max, the new regular iPhone 18 and others may come later or maybe under a new scheme.
🚨 iPhone 18 series: what we know so far (and how it stacks up vs previous iPhones) 👀🍎
• iPhone 18 Pro (6.3”) & Pro Max (6.9”)
→ Similar sizes to iPhone 15/16 Pro, but with a smaller Dynamic Island
→ Still Face ID, but more screen immersion
📸 Cameras
• Triple 48MP across… pic.twitter.com/Bd6v6Dl7TQ— The Blueprint (@blueprintorg1) January 17, 2026
iPhone 18 Pro Max: Physical Button Changes Hinted (Expected)
Rumors also point towards potential design modifications for the physical controls of the Pro Max. The use of capacitive or software buttons for the cameras may see the inclusion of a physical button for the shutter, which will provide faster access for photo and video professionals.
