[Digital Today reporter Yoonseo Lee (이윤서)] The iPhone 18 Pro is set to be unveiled next week, and potential upgrades centred on battery, camera and design are drawing attention.

On Aug. 31 (local time), IT outlet 9to5Mac cited the three as key changes for iPhone 17 Pro users to consider when moving to the new model.

The most notable change is the battery. Battery life has long been a core demand among iPhone users. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max saw major improvements, but this year’s iPhone 18 Pro could go a step further.

Improved power efficiency in components is cited as a driver of better battery life. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could feature an LTPO+ display, a 2-nanometre process for the A20 Pro chip and Apple-designed C2 cellular modem, it said. Recent leaks also suggest this year’s Pro models, especially the iPhone 18 Pro Max, could physically include a larger-capacity battery. Display, chip, communications parts and battery capacity would work together to extend usage time.

The camera is also central to the upgrade case. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (마크 거먼) mentioned that the iPhone 18 Pro will bring a camera hardware milestone for the first time in years. The focus is on the main and telephoto cameras. A variable aperture could be applied to the main camera, while the telephoto camera could get a larger aperture.

Physical changes to the camera module are also being detected. IT tipster Fixed Focus Digital said the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera bump could be 2 mm thicker than last year and include an enlarged main camera module. Detailed specifications have not been confirmed, but it is being read as a signal that camera improvements could be hardware-led rather than software-led.

Design is also a factor that directly affects annual upgrade demand. If external changes are limited, existing users have less incentive to switch. The iPhone 18 Pro, however, is signalling changes to both the front and back.

Three changes are currently being discussed: new colours, a smaller Dynamic Island and an integrated finish combining rear glass and aluminium. Dark cherry, light blue and silver were cited as leading candidates, with black or space gray also possible.

On the front, the Dynamic Island could be about 35 percent smaller than before. The move would aim to improve screen use and deliver a more modern look.

The rear design could also be revised. The two-tone configuration that split opinion in last year’s model could disappear, and the iPhone 18 Pro could shift to a more unified exterior. Apple is not undertaking a full design overhaul, but the direction is clearly to deliver changes that are distinguishable when placed next to existing models.

Ultimately, the core of the iPhone 18 Pro lies in perceived changes rather than added specifications. If a higher-capacity battery, hardware-led camera upgrades and noticeable exterior changes are reflected in the product, the need to upgrade could grow even among iPhone 17 Pro users. How specifically Apple explains the three elements at next week’s unveiling event is seen as a factor that will shape the initial reaction.