Compare iD Mobile iPhone 18 Pro deals ahead of Apple's expected mid-September 2026 launch, including a thicker redesign, a new adjustable camera and a bigger battery — plus why iD Mobile is worth comparing once contracts go live.
In short: The iPhone 18 Pro is tipped for a keynote around 8–9 September 2026, with sales starting roughly ten days later. The headline change is a thicker body to accommodate a new variable-aperture camera, alongside a modestly larger battery and Apple's first 2nm chip. Pricing is expected to rise, possibly by around $200 in the US, driven by higher memory costs across the industry. Everything below is drawn from leaks and supply-chain reporting — Apple hasn't confirmed a single detail yet.
iD Mobile deals for the iPhone 18 Pro will appear on this page automatically once the handset goes on sale. Until then, here's what to expect, and why it's worth checking iD Mobile against the bigger networks when you're ready to buy.
1. When is the iPhone 18 Pro coming out?
Apple's September keynote has a remarkably consistent pattern: it almost always falls on the first Tuesday or Wednesday after the US Labor Day holiday, giving the company time to bank a few weeks of sales before the end of its financial quarter. Industry reporting has narrowed the date down to either Tuesday 8 September or Wednesday 9 September 2026, with the Wednesday date considered more likely since Apple tends to avoid holding a global press event the day after a public holiday when it's flying in press and staff from around the world.
Handsets should go on sale the Friday of the following week, which points to 18 September 2026 as the likely on-sale date — in line with Apple's usual gap between announcement and availability.
2. How much will the iPhone 18 Pro cost?
Rising memory and storage costs are the dominant story behind this year's pricing rumours. Some analysts expect the iPhone 18 Pro's starting price to rise by as much as $200 over the iPhone 17 Pro, which would be one of the larger year-on-year increases in recent memory. Apple has already pushed through price rises on several iPad and MacBook models, which many read as preparing the market for a similar jump on iPhone.
Whatever the RRP ends up being, iD Mobile pay-monthly contracts should still undercut buying the Pro outright, particularly once the launch rush settles and networks start competing harder on data and upfront pricing.
3. iPhone 18 Pro specs: what's rumoured
| Specification | iPhone 18 Pro (rumoured) |
|---|---|
| Thickness | ~9.9–10.9mm (up from 8.75mm on iPhone 17 Pro) |
| Chip | Apple's first 2nm chipset |
| Battery | ~4,056mAh (physical SIM) / ~4,288mAh (eSIM-only) |
| Rear camera | Variable-aperture main lens, adjustable light intake |
| Display | Smaller Dynamic Island (Face ID moved below display) |
| Modem | New in-house Apple modem in some regions |
| Colours | Includes a new Dark Cherry finish |
Why is the iPhone 18 Pro getting thicker?
After several years of the Pro line-up getting incrementally thicker, the iPhone 18 Pro looks set to follow the same trend, reportedly ranging from around 9.9mm to 10.9mm — a noticeable jump from the 8.75mm iPhone 17 Pro. The extra depth is widely attributed to a new variable-aperture camera system, which lets the main sensor physically adjust how much light it lets in, similar to a traditional camera lens, for sharper results in tricky lighting.
Reports have also pointed to a larger battery filling some of that extra space, alongside cooling requirements for the new chip.
Battery life
Both battery sizes are up on last year, according to Chinese regulatory certification filings, though the increase is modest for the standard Pro model — roughly a 1–2% rise depending on the exact SIM configuration. Combined with a more efficient 2nm chip, real-world battery life should still improve meaningfully over the iPhone 17 Pro even without a dramatic capacity jump.
Design and Dynamic Island
Leaks point to a smaller Dynamic Island, as Apple reportedly finds room to move Face ID components further into the display itself. Expect rear glass that blends more closely with the body colour than on the iPhone 17 Pro, plus the new Dark Cherry finish alongside the usual black and titanium-style options.
4. Why get the iPhone 18 Pro on iD Mobile?
iD Mobile runs on Three's UK network and typically prices its pay-monthly contracts more aggressively than the bigger four networks for equivalent data allowances. A few things worth checking when comparing deals:
- Total cost over the contract term, not just the headline monthly price — upfront costs vary a lot between otherwise similar-looking deals.
- Data allowance versus your actual usage — the Pro's on-device AI features lean more on local processing than cloud, so you may not need as large an allowance as you'd expect.
- eSIM availability, since the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to continue Apple's eSIM-only approach in some markets.
- Trade-in value for your current phone, which is usually strongest in the first few weeks after a new model launches.
5. iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: which should you buy?
The Pro and Pro Max are expected to share the same core upgrades — the variable-aperture camera, the 2nm chip and the smaller Dynamic Island — with the main differences coming down to screen size and battery capacity. If a bigger screen and the longest possible battery life matter more to you than pocketability, our iPhone 18 Pro Max guide covers the step up in full.
6. iPhone 18 Pro FAQs
When is the iPhone 18 Pro coming out?
Most likely announced on 9 September 2026, with sales starting around 18 September 2026.
Why is the iPhone 18 Pro thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro?
Leaks point to a new variable-aperture camera system needing extra internal space, alongside a larger battery.
How much bigger is the iPhone 18 Pro's battery?
Regulatory filings suggest a modest increase over the iPhone 17 Pro, in the region of 1–2% depending on SIM configuration, though real-world gains should be larger thanks to a more efficient chip.
Is iD Mobile good value for a Pro-tier iPhone?
iD Mobile's contracts are generally priced below the bigger four networks for equivalent data, making it worth comparing directly once iPhone 18 Pro deals go live.
Everything on this page is based on leaks and rumour and will be updated as Apple confirms official details.
