iPhone 18 Pro Enters Test Production
iPhone 18 Pro has entered small-batch test production ahead of its fall release, staying on Apple's typical development schedule. Separately, Apple's first foldable iPhone is tipped for September launch with display panels entering mass production in July alongside iPhone 18 Pro/Max.
- The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to feature Apple's new A20 Pro chip, built on a 2-nanometer process, and the company's own C2 modem, which may enable 5G satellite connectivity for data, not just emergency messages. - Camera upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro may include a main lens with a variable aperture for better light control and a front-facing selfie camera boosted to 24 megapixels, up from 18MP in the iPhone 17. - The foldable iPhone is rumored to have a "book-style" design, unlike a clamshell flip phone, featuring a titanium alloy casing with a nearly 7.8-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external display. - To achieve a "crease-free" display on its first foldable, Apple is reportedly using liquid metal in the hinge mechanism and has selected Samsung Display as the exclusive supplier for the advanced OLED panels. - This will be a premium-priced device, with analysts expecting the foldable iPhone to cost between $2,000 and $2,500, entering a market pioneered by competitors like Samsung and Google seven years prior. - To maximize internal space for what could be the largest battery ever in an iPhone, the foldable model is expected to forgo Face ID in favor of a Touch ID sensor integrated into the side power button. - Apple's focus on high-end models follows strong sales of the iPhone 17 Pro lineup, which accounted for 52% of total sales in that generation, up from 39% for the iPhone 16 Pro models. - While the first foldable is a book-style device, Apple is also reportedly exploring a second, clamshell-style "flip phone" foldable as a potential future product.
