{"slug": "iphone-18-pro-three-new-features-that-already-have-me-excited", "title": "iPhone 18 Pro: Three new features that already have me excited", "summary": "Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to feature a major A20 Pro chip on a 2nm process, significant camera upgrades including variable aperture and improved telephoto, and the in-house C2 5G modem with satellite support, marking a potential full transition away from Qualcomm.", "body_md": "iPhone 18 Pro is still a [few months away](https://9to5mac.com/2026/05/18/iphone-18-release-date-when-apples-new-model-is-coming/) from launching, but out of the [rumored new features](https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/19/iphone-18-pro-six-new-features-are-coming-this-fall/) so far, there are three upgrades I’m especially excited about.\n\n## #1: A20 Pro chip\n\nMost years, the iPhone’s new chip isn’t especially high on the list of features that excite me. But with iPhone 18 Pro, things are different.\n\nThe rumored A20 Pro chip coming this year is [expected to be](https://9to5mac.com/2026/05/08/iphone-18-pros-new-a20-chip-rumored-to-bring-two-major-upgrades/) a bigger-than-usual upgrade. That’s thanks to a new 2nm fabrication process and WMCM packaging.\n\nIt’s not just the potential for big performance and efficiency gains that excites me though. It’s also the fact that iOS 27’s Apple Intelligence features should benefit a lot from the new chip.\n\nSiri AI and the many other new AI features are cutting-edge enough that certain aspects of them [require the current-best iPhone chip](https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/16/iphone-17-wont-get-ios-27s-top-tier-features-heres-why/): A19 Pro.\n\nWith such demanding software, I have no doubt that A20 Pro will make a noticeable difference for iOS 27 users.\n\n## #2: Camera upgrades\n\niPhone 18 Pro could offer “some of the biggest camera hardware upgrades in the lineup’s history,” per Mark Gurman.\n\n[New features are rumored](https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/15/iphone-18-pro-three-new-camera-upgrades-are-coming/) for my two most-used cameras:\n\n- Main camera is getting variable aperture\n- Telephoto camera has a larger aperture\n\nThe improved Main camera is [reportedly](https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/22/new-iphone-18-pro-leak-highlights-big-upgrade-for-most-popular-camera/) also the reason iPhone 18 Pro’s plateau will be noticeably thicker. It may be 2mm thicker or more due primarily to an “enlarged main camera module.”\n\nThough we don’t have all the details, it sounds like the Main camera will improve in bigger ways than just variable aperture. And the Telephoto upgrades should make it perform better in low light.\n\nThe camera is one of iPhone’s most important features, so I’m eager to see what iPhone 18 Pro brings.\n\n## #3: C2 modem\n\nApple began transitioning away from Qualcomm 5G modems with the iPhone 16e last year. iPhone Air and iPhone 17e continued the trend.\n\niPhone 17 Pro still uses Qualcomm modems, but rumors indicate Apple’s next-generation C2 modem will debut in the iPhone 18 Pro.\n\nC2 is an especially interesting new feature for several reasons.\n\nFirst, it’s expected to be the modem that Apple uses to fully phase out Qualcomm. That means it should match or perhaps exceed the capabilities of the current best modems.\n\nSecond, 5G satellite support is [rumored](https://9to5mac.com/2026/05/21/iphone-18-pro-could-make-life-saving-niche-feature-into-everyday-asset/) to be part of C2, likely to power [several new](https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/16/apple-has-four-new-iphone-satellite-features-rumored-heres-whats-coming/) satellite-related features.\n\nFinally, Apple has already shown that its in-house modems bring [exclusive benefits](https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/09/iphone-18-pros-new-c2-chip-will-bring-three-advantages-over-iphone-17/), like battery gains and new privacy features. I’m interested to see if C2 will add anything to that list as part of the iPhone 18 Pro marketing pitch.\n\nWhich rumored iPhone 18 Pro features are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.\n\n### Best iPhone accessories\n\n[AirPods Pro 3 (](https://amzn.to/3Peq3Ge)**now only $179**, down from $249)[MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone](https://amzn.to/4tSJYde)[10-year AirTag battery case](https://amzn.to/4e6O6R2)[AirTag 2](https://amzn.to/48BACtL)([1-pack](https://amzn.to/48BACtL)/[4-pack](https://amzn.to/3OFX4Lv))[100W USB-C fast charging power adapter](https://amzn.to/48EbPVU)\n\n*FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.* [More.](https://9to5mac.com/about/#affiliate)\n\n[our homepage](http://9to5mac.com/)for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on\n\n[exclusive stories](https://9to5mac.com/feature/exclusive/),\n\n[reviews](https://9to5mac.com/guides/review/),\n\n[how-tos](https://9to5mac.com/guides/how-to/), and\n\n[subscribe to our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/9to5mac)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/iphone-18-pro-three-new-features-that-already-have-me-excited", "canonical_source": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/23/iphone-18-pro-three-new-features-that-already-have-me-excited/", "published_at": "2026-06-23 18:45:32+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-06-24 00:02:48.544955+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-chips", "ai-products"], "entities": ["Apple", "iPhone 18 Pro", "A20 Pro", "Qualcomm", "C2 modem", "Mark Gurman", "iOS 27", "Siri AI"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/iphone-18-pro-three-new-features-that-already-have-me-excited", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/iphone-18-pro-three-new-features-that-already-have-me-excited.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/iphone-18-pro-three-new-features-that-already-have-me-excited.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/iphone-18-pro-three-new-features-that-already-have-me-excited.jsonld"}}