iPhone 18 Pro could be affordable and iPhone 17 Pro buyers may regret not waiting for it
Have you purchased any iPhone 17 Pro models recently? Well, some fresh details on the potential prices of the iPhone 18 Pro models suggest that such buyers may regret not waiting for the 2026 iPhone models. Read the entire story to understand.
If you recently purchased the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max, you may want to look elsewhere. Early supply chain inputs suggest that Apple is already working hard to ensure that the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro series does not cost more than the existing models, and this could make the next upgrade cycle more attractive than expected.
According to a research note accessed by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu says Apple’s recent “supply chain research” shows the company is focused on “cost management,” with the aim of keeping the starting prices of iPhone 18 Pro models either “unchanged” or at the “same level” as the iPhone 17 Pro lineup.
For reference, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 in the US, while the Pro Max starts at $1,199. In India, Apple launched iPhone 17 Pro for Rs 1,34,900 and iPhone 17 Pro Max for Rs 1,49,900. If the next-generation Pro models come at the same price, buyers won’t have to pay extra for the new hardware. Add to this the usual bank offers and exchange deals in India, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max may be more accessible than many expect.
Pu reportedly claims that despite rising DRAM and NAND prices, Apple is in talks with Samsung and SK Hynix to secure more “favorable” memory chip deals. The company is also said to be working on reducing the cost of other key components like the display and camera.
Another renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has expressed a similar view. He said Apple plans to “refrain from raising prices as much as possible” for the iPhone 18 Pro models, and predicted that the company will at least keep the starting prices “flat” compared to the iPhone 17 Pro models.
Why might iPhone 17 Pro buyers regret not waiting for an iPhone 18 Pro or Max model?
The answer lies in the upgrades being said for the iPhone 18 Pro series, especially in the camera department.
One of the most talked about features is the main camera with variable aperture. Rumors about it have been going around for over a year, but it didn’t arrive with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Now, this feature is once again being added to the iPhone 18 Pro models. “A major upgrade for the 2026 high-end iPhone 18 is the upgrade of the wide-angle camera lens to a variable aperture camera, which significantly enhances the user’s photography experience,” Kuo previously said.
Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station also claimed that “iPhones are testing a variable aperture main camera + a large aperture telephoto lens.” It is still not clear whether both the Pro models will get this feature or it will be limited to the Pro Max.
A variable aperture will allow users to adjust the depth of field more naturally. Currently, wide shots on iPhones are captured at a fixed f/1.78 aperture. With variable aperture support, users can choose between shallow, medium or deep depth of field depending on the scene.
Additionally, Apple is said to be working on an improved telephoto lens with a larger aperture. The iPhone 17 Pro currently offers a telephoto lens with an f/2.8 aperture. A wider aperture can help improve low-light zoom shots, an area where smartphones often struggle.
Another jump may also be seen in battery life. A known leaker named Instant Digital claims that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be thicker and heavier, with it likely to have a larger battery. While there’s no word on how big a battery unit the standard 18 Pro model will have, leaks have suggested the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a 5,000mAh (or larger) unit under the hood.
A significant jump in performance is also expected. The iPhone 18 Pro lineup is said to feature Apple’s A20 Pro chip, which will reportedly be built on a 2nm process and use WMCM (wafer-level multi-chip module) packaging. These changes could deliver strong gains in performance, power efficiency, and AI-related functions compared to the A19 Pro.
Design-wise, the overall shape may remain the same, but there are some refinements in the works. Reports suggest a small dynamic island as the company plans to place Face ID components below the display. Apple is also said to be planning a more integrated rear design to address the mixed reactions over the two-tone look of the iPhone 17 Pro. Lastly, new color options like coffee brown, purple, and burgundy are also being tested.
Overall, if Apple manages to keep prices stable while offering meaningful camera, battery, and chip upgrades, the iPhone 18 Pro and Max models could offer more value at the same entry price. And for some iPhone 17 Pro buyers, that may be hard to swallow.