These could be among the most important upgrades coming to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, spanning its camera system and display design to Apple’s own cellular modem.

Variable-aperture camera: A long-awaited upgrade

One of the most notable changes to the iPhone 18 Pro Max could be a main camera featuring variable-aperture technology.

More than two years ago, The Information reported that Apple was developing a camera system capable of changing its aperture for the iPhone. At the time, the report suggested the iPhone 17 would be the first model to feature the technology.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo later offered a different prediction, saying a variable-aperture camera would arrive with the iPhone 18 lineup rather than the iPhone 17.

Now, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max only days away from its expected unveiling, the latest leaks continue to strengthen expectations that Apple will indeed bring the technology to the main camera. However, it remains unclear whether the feature will appear on both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max or be reserved exclusively for the Pro Max.

If implemented effectively, a variable aperture could open up new possibilities for iPhone photography.

The camera could dynamically adjust how much light reaches the sensor depending on shooting conditions, helping users control depth of field, improve image quality across different lighting environments and gain greater control over their photography.

Its real-world effectiveness, however, will depend heavily on how Apple integrates the technology with the camera system and its image-processing software. The answer should become clearer when Apple officially unveils the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

A significantly smaller Dynamic Island after years of waiting

Another change that could be immediately noticeable on the iPhone 18 Pro Max is a smaller Dynamic Island.

It has been nearly a decade since the iPhone X arrived with the notch, marking the first time Apple introduced a display cutout on the iPhone. In 2022, Apple redesigned that area with the iPhone 14 Pro, introducing Dynamic Island and giving the space housing the front-facing camera and sensors a cleaner appearance.

Four years later, Apple is reportedly preparing to shrink the Dynamic Island further on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Recent rumors suggest the new display cutout could be around 35% smaller than the current design. If accurate, it would represent one of the most significant changes to the iPhone’s front design in years.

Interestingly, hints of a smaller Dynamic Island are also believed to have appeared in the design of Siri’s new interface in iOS 27.

Apple’s virtual assistant interface has reportedly been designed in a way that suggests the display area occupied by the camera and sensors on the next-generation iPhone may have been reduced.

Shrinking the Dynamic Island would not only provide more usable screen space but could also signal that Apple is gradually working toward overcoming the design constraints created by the front-facing camera and sensor system.

Apple-designed C2 modem

The third upgrade could involve a component users rarely see but one that plays a critical role in the iPhone: the cellular modem.

Apple has quietly been developing its own modem technology for years. It was only last year, however, that the company first introduced an iPhone using its internally designed C1 modem.

Now, new rumors suggest Apple is preparing to take another step forward with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, moving away from a Qualcomm modem in favor of the C2, the next generation of cellular modem developed by Apple.

The C2 is expected to deliver faster connectivity than the C1 and C1X while further improving power efficiency.

This is one of the key advantages Apple is pursuing by taking control of modem design rather than remaining entirely dependent on outside suppliers.

Beyond performance, Apple-developed modems are also expected to offer potential benefits in privacy and deeper hardware-software optimization.

By controlling the chip, operating system and other key iPhone components, Apple could optimize the overall system in ways that are more difficult when relying on third-party components.

Together, these three upgrades suggest Apple is approaching the iPhone 18 Pro Max with changes that go beyond its exterior design to improve some of the device’s most important internal components.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to be unveiled by Apple next week. The company should then officially confirm the changes to the camera, display and cellular connectivity, revealing whether these long-awaited upgrades will truly make a major difference to the iPhone experience.

Hai Phong