[Digital Today reporter Yoonseo Lee] With the iPhone 18 Pro set to be unveiled next week, it may include three key upgrades that have been discussed for years.

According to IT outlet 9to5Mac on Sept. 2 local time, attention is focused on a variable-aperture camera, a smaller Dynamic Island and Apple’s in-house C2 modem design.

The most closely watched change is the camera. Expectations that the iPhone would adopt a variable-aperture camera system have persisted for more than 2 years. Early forecasts pointed to the iPhone 17, but it is now being discussed as a possible feature for the iPhone 18 Pro’s main camera. It may be limited to the Pro Max, though it could also be included in both Pro models.

Changes to the front design are also in focus. Apple first introduced the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, reducing the cutout at the top of the display. In the iPhone 18 Pro, it may become even smaller. Rumours so far suggest the new Dynamic Island could be about 35 percent smaller than the current one, and analysts say a new Siri interface expected in iOS 27 also hinted at such a change.

Modem changes are also drawing attention. Apple has long developed its own modem and first installed its in-house C1 modem in an iPhone last year. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to use a next-generation C2 chip instead of a Qualcomm modem. The C2 is expected to improve communication speeds and power efficiency and strengthen privacy protection. Its actual performance, where it will be available and whether it will be included by model are expected to be confirmed after an official announcement.

Ultimately, the main focus for the iPhone 18 Pro is not the addition of new features itself, but how long-anticipated changes are implemented in the actual product. The camera is linked to the shooting experience, the Dynamic Island to display design, and the C2 modem to a strategy of bringing components in-house. How complete Apple’s execution is across these three areas is expected to be a key variable for the new product.