Tipster footage suggests under-display Face ID, variable aperture camera and a new A20 Pro chip as Apple prepares its next flagship refresh
A leaked video circulating online is offering one of the clearest looks yet at what Apple may be planning for its next flagship smartphone, with the iPhone 18 Pro tipped to introduce visible changes to the display, camera system and internal architecture.
Shared by Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser, the footage outlines what appears to be a significant design update as Apple continues to refine its premium lineup ahead of the expected September 2026 launch window.
The most striking change is on the front of the device. According to the leak, Apple is preparing to shrink the familiar pill shaped cutout by moving some Face ID components under the display. The visible cutout is reduced to a single hole, with the selfie camera shifting to the top left corner rather than the centre.
Dynamic Island is expected to remain part of the iPhone experience, but the video suggests it will follow the front camera to the top left corner and take up less screen space. The aim appears to be making the interface feel less intrusive while keeping Apple’s live activity features intact.
Camera and chip upgrades take centre stage
On the back, the iPhone 18 Pro could mark a meaningful step forward for photography. The leak claims Apple is testing a variable aperture system for the main camera, allowing the lens itself to control how much light enters. This would enable more natural background blur and improved low light performance without relying as heavily on software processing.
Prosser says the feature may be exclusive to the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max, continuing Apple’s trend of reserving some hardware upgrades for its top tier model.
Internally, both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to run on Apple’s next generation A20 Pro chip. Previous reports cited in the video point to TSMC’s 2 nanometre manufacturing process, alongside a new design approach that integrates RAM directly onto the same wafer as the CPU, GPU and Neural Engine.
The tighter integration is expected to deliver higher performance and better power efficiency, which could be critical for on device AI features under Apple Intelligence. Early estimates mentioned in the leak suggest around 15 percent better performance and up to 30 percent higher efficiency compared with the previous generation, though Apple has not confirmed any figures.
The video also suggests Apple is preparing to introduce its own C2 modem, another step in reducing reliance on third party suppliers for cellular connectivity.
Battery details remain limited, but the leak points to a 6.3 inch display for the iPhone 18 Pro and a 5,100mAh battery for the Pro Max model. Colour options under consideration include burgundy, brown and purple, a departure from Apple’s usual muted Pro finishes.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in September 2026, following its traditional launch cycle. The standard iPhone 18 model may arrive later, possibly in 2027, though the company has not confirmed any timeline.
