iPhone 18 Pro Max: what the leaks say ahead of Apple's expected September event

Apple is preparing a September event at which the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be unveiled, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max at the centre of a steady stream of leaks. The company has not confirmed a date, but Forbes reports the new models are expected on sale in just over a month from early August 2026, and Apple may return to in-person launches for the first time in years. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is rumored to run on an A20 Pro chip built on TSMC's 2-nanometer process, with leaked specifications pointing to a battery of about 5,567 mAh and a camera with variable aperture. Reports suggest the design will stay close to the iPhone 17 Pro line, with new colour options including a Dark Cherry finish. Apple is also expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone alongside the Pro models. The stakes are higher than usual because this launch may break with Apple's established rhythm. Reports indicate a staggered release, with the standard iPhone 18 arriving separately from the Pro models, and analysts forecast price increases in markets including India and the UAE.

A September event, reportedly back in person

Apple is reportedly preparing a September event for the iPhone 18 Pro, and reports suggest the company will return to in-person launch events for the unveiling. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to headline the show, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and possibly Apple's first foldable iPhone — a device referred to in some reports as the iPhone Fold and in others as the iPhone Ultra.

As of early August 2026, Apple had not confirmed a date, according to Forbes, though one report points to September 8. Forbes also reported that the next iPhone models are expected to go on sale in just over a month from early August. Meanwhile, US retail staff have reportedly been given the chance to enter a lottery tied to an in-person launch event, lending weight to the in-person format.

A20 Pro chip, bigger battery and a variable-aperture camera

At the heart of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, according to the rumours, will be Apple's A20 Pro chip, reportedly manufactured on TSMC's 2-nanometer process. That would mark a significant shrink from current silicon, with the usual gains in speed and efficiency. One report claims TSMC is holding roughly $1 billion worth of A20 Pro chips while awaiting sufficient DRAM supply before production can advance, a potential bottleneck in Apple's launch plans.

Leaked specifications also point to a battery of about 5,567 mAh, which would be among the largest Apple has fitted to an iPhone. And the camera is rumoured to gain variable aperture, letting the lens adjust how much light it captures rather than relying on a fixed opening. None of this is confirmed. Reports describe the leaked details as increasingly consistent across multiple independent sources, but Apple has said nothing about the hardware.

Familiar design, new colours including Dark Cherry

Don't expect a dramatic redesign. According to leaks, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to look broadly similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, with Apple reportedly keeping the overall design while refreshing the colour palette.

The most eye-catching addition, per the same leaks, is a Dark Cherry finish. Light Blue, Dark Gray and Silver are also said to be among the options for the Pro models.

Notably, reporting on the iPhone 18 Pro Max has described the leaked details as increasingly consistent across multiple independent sources — a pattern that often emerges as a launch approaches. None of this has been confirmed by Apple, so the finishes and design should be treated as informed rumour rather than fact until the September event.

A staggered release breaks with Apple's usual rhythm

Apple has long kept its September launches simple: one event, one family of phones, one release date. The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max were announced on September 9, 2024, and went on sale together on September 20. A year later, on September 9, 2025, the iPhone 17 Pro was presented at Apple Park in Cupertino as part of a single lineup spanning the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and the new iPhone Air.

This year may look different. According to Stuff, the standard iPhone 18 is expected to arrive separately from the iPhone 18 Pro models, and rumours point to staggered launch dates across the range rather than a single release. If accurate, it would mark a notable departure from the unified rollout Apple has favoured in recent years.

Higher prices expected, with trade-in values raised

Buyers should brace for a more expensive iPhone this year. Stuff reports the next iPhone will likely cost more than its predecessor, and early forecasts suggest the iPhone 18 Pro Max could carry a higher price in the UAE than previous models. The steepest increases may land in India, where one analyst has revised a forecast to suggest the iPhone 18 Pro could rise by as much as Rs 27,000, and where the Pro Max is expected to cost at least Rs 30,000 more than in the United States.

Apple may be softening the blow. The company has raised trade-in values across iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches and certain Android phones, with some devices gaining more than $100. The Mac Studio saw the largest increase, rising by $260 — a potential cushion for anyone upgrading this September.

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