Updated

Updated · Tom's Guide · Sep 2

iPhone 18 Pro May Gain A20 Pro and 48MP Variable Aperture as Price Rises Up to $200

Updated

Updated · Tom's Guide · Sep 2

iPhone 18 Pro May Gain A20 Pro and 48MP Variable Aperture as Price Rises Up to $200

Q: Will Apple's rumored $300 price hike for the iPhone 18 Pro be justified by its groundbreaking 2nm chip?

Probably not for most buyers—at least not on the chip alone. The rumored A20 Pro does look like a meaningful step up. If Apple is indeed moving to TSMC’s 2nm process with new WMCM packaging, the gains could be larger than a typical annual refresh: reports point to roughly 15% to 18% better performance and as much as 30% better power efficiency. That should translate into faster on-device AI, less heat under sustained workloads, and better battery life, especially when paired with the slightly larger battery and more efficient LTPO+ display. But a $300 increase would be unusually steep relative to what users are likely to feel day to day. The iPhone 17 Pro already offers 12GB of RAM, strong battery life, triple 48MP cameras, and Apple Intelligence support. For many owners, the difference between a very fast 3nm A19 Pro and a faster 2nm A20 Pro will be noticeable mainly in benchmarks, gaming, and heavier AI tasks rather than ordinary messaging, browsing, or photography. The stronger case for a higher price would be the full package, not the chip alone: a stacked image sensor, possible variable-aperture camera, display efficiency gains, modem improvements, and battery gains. Even then, much depends on whether key camera upgrades reach the standard Pro or remain exclusive to the Pro Max. So the 2nm chip may help explain some price pressure, especially given higher leading-edge wafer costs, but by itself it is unlikely to justify a $300 jump for most consumers.

3 articles · Updated · Tom's Guide · Sep 2

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro on Sept. 9, with rumors pointing to a 2nm A20 Pro chip, a 48MP main camera with variable aperture and a modest battery increase to 4,288 mAh.
Those upgrades could bring the biggest gains in photography and efficiency: leaks cite better low-light performance, improved dynamic range, faster on-device AI and longer battery life than the iPhone 17 Pro.
Pricing is the main trade-off. The iPhone 17 Pro started at $999, while analysts expect the new Pro models to rise by $100 to $200 because of higher memory and component costs.
The 6.3-inch form factor and 120Hz display are expected to stay largely unchanged, though Apple is rumored to shrink the Dynamic Island and use a more efficient LTPO+ panel.
A key uncertainty remains whether variable aperture will reach the smaller Pro at all, with some reports saying the feature may be limited to the larger Pro Max.