Apple just sent out invitations for its September 9th event, and like always, this year’s “Surprise and shine” invite may be revealing more than usual. The artwork features a glowing Apple logo against a light blue background, with a bright flare at its centre. Apple obviously hasn’t explained the visual, but Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes the shining light and the blue shade could drop some exciting clues about the iPhone 18 Pro reveal.
Apple event invite: what clues is it dropping?
According to Gurman, the shining light could hint at a mechanical aperture for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, while the blue shade may point to a new Sky Blue colour for the iPhone 18 Pro. Gurman’s interpretation is notable because a mechanical aperture would be a first for an iPhone, and the leaks have been hinting at it for a while now.
The system would use physical blades to change the size of the lens opening, allowing more light in darker conditions and less in bright scenes. It could also give photographers greater control over depth of field and natural background blur. Low light photography has been a pain point for iPhone Pro users, and Apple could finally be fetching a fix.
The blue in the invitation could similarly point to a new Pro colour. The iPhone 17 Pro series introduced Cosmic Orange, but Apple is expected to replace it with a darker Dark Cherry shade, described in earlier reports as a deep red-purple. Sky Blue, along with silver and dark grey, has also been tipped for the new Pro models. The invitation and Gurman’s comment make Sky Blue a strong possibility, although the Dark Cherry was actually seen in a leaked prototype a few weeks earlier.
iPhone 18 Pro series: what to expect
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to retain the broad design of the iPhone 17 Pro series, while gaining a smaller Dynamic Island, new colours and camera changes. Reports suggest both could use Apple’s A20 Pro chip, built on a 2nm process, while the displays are expected to remain around 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches respectively. The Pro models are also tipped to retain 48MP main, ultrawide and telephoto cameras.
The biggest camera change could be the variable aperture, although reports differ on whether it will reach both Pro models or remain exclusive to the Pro Max. If it is limited to the larger phone, Apple would be following a strategy it has used before, reserving some camera hardware for its top-end model.
Reports have pointed to a possible USD 100 starting price increase for the iPhone 18 Pro series, with memory and component costs adding pressure. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at Rs 1,34,900 in India, so a substantial increase could push the new Pro models further into premium territory. Those specifically interested in camera improvements should wait for Apple’s September 9th announcement.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Images
| Expected Price: | N/A |
| Release Date: | (Expected) |
| Variant: | 12 GB RAM |
| Phone Status: | Upcoming Phone |
