Apple won't like this! A well-known analyst shared key parameters of new iPhones

The iPhone 17 series has only been on store shelves for four months, and specific specifications for the next generation are already emerging. Analyst Jeff Pu from GF Securities, who has good contacts in the Apple supply chain, shared details about three iPhone 18 models: Pro, Pro Max, and the long-awaited iPhone Fold – the first foldable iPhone.

iPhone Fold: Touch ID instead of Face ID

According to Pu’s information, the iPhone Fold will get Touch ID – a fingerprint reader – instead of the expected Face ID. The reason? Probably the technological complexity and cost of implementing Face ID into a foldable display.

The construction will combine titanium and aluminum, suggesting a compromise between premium quality and maintaining a reasonable weight. The displays are expected to have diagonals of 7.8 inches (internal) and 5.3 inches (external cover display). For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 offers a 7.6″ main display and a 6.3″ external display – Apple is thus opting for a smaller external display, which should, however, be wider than that of its South Korean competitor.

The cameras will include two 48Mpx sensors on the back (7P lens + 6P lens). The front cameras will have the same resolution of 18 Mpx – one on the external display, the other on the internal unfolded display.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: smaller Dynamic Island, three 48Mpx cameras

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models will be a more classic affair with an aluminum frame, a smaller Dynamic Island, and an improved camera. All three rear cameras will get 48Mpx resolution: a main sensor with a 7P lens, a periscopic telephoto lens, and a third 6P lens.

Display diagonals are expected to be 6.3 inches (Pro) and 6.9 inches (Pro Max), which is consistent with recent leaks from Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station.

12 GB RAM for all: a necessity due to AI

All three models – iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and Fold – will get 12 GB LPDDR5 RAM. The reason? Apple is preparing an aggressive expansion of AI features, including a significantly improved Siri, which is expected to arrive this year.

The processor will be the A20 Pro, manufactured using TSMC’s 2nm process (N2). The combination of a more powerful chip, more RAM, and better energy efficiency is intended to enable advanced AI models to run directly on the device, without the need for cloud processing.

All three models will also receive the Apple C2 modem – a proprietary connectivity solution intended to replace Qualcomm chips.

Staggered launch: Pro models in September, the rest in 2027

Apple apparently isn’t planning a traditional simultaneous launch of the entire series. In September 2026, only three models are expected to arrive: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Fold. The basic iPhone 18 and the cheaper iPhone 18e will come in spring 2027, along with the iPhone Air 2.

This strategy makes sense – Apple can afford to launch the most expensive models first, where margins are highest, and only then supplement the portfolio with more affordable variants. At the same time, it frees up production capacity and allows for better management of the supply chain.

Market shrinks, Apple will grow

In his analysis for investors, Jeff Pu stated that the global smartphone market is likely to decline by 4% in 2026, primarily due to high memory chip prices and weak demand for cheap and mid-range Androids.

However, Apple is expected to grow against the tide. Pu estimates iPhone shipments at 250 million units in 2026, a 2% year-on-year increase. This would raise Apple’s market share from 20% in 2025 to 21% in 2026. For comparison, in 2024, Apple had a share of only 19%.

Would you buy the first iPhone Fold, or wait for the second generation?

Source: 9to5Mac