iPhone 18 Pro Design: 3 Big Changes That Could Divide Buyers
As Apple prepares to launch its next flagship smartphone this September, new predictions suggest the iPhone 18 Pro could bring three notable design changes compared to its predecessor, changes that early reports suggest may not sit well with every buyer. According to a recent report from 9to5Mac, these shifts touch on thickness, weight, and even the phone’s available color options.
1. Will the iPhone 18 Pro Get Thicker?
One of the more debated predictions centers on whether the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be noticeably thicker than the current generation. Industry sources don’t fully agree on the exact numbers, but multiple leaks point in the same general direction.
Tipster FixedFocusDigital has claimed the iPhone 18 Pro could measure roughly 2mm thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro. Given that the current iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max measure 8.75mm thick, that prediction would put the iPhone 18 Pro at approximately 10.75mm, a fairly significant jump for a smartphone. Separately, tipster Ice Universe has offered a more modest estimate, suggesting the iPhone 18 Pro Max could come in closer to 9mm thick.
Not every source agrees a thickness increase is coming at all, though. Macworld has reported that the iPhone 18 Pro’s main body could actually stay at the same 8.75mm thickness as its predecessor, with any added bulk instead coming from a thicker rear camera module rather than the phone’s overall frame.
2. A Heavier Phone Overall
Alongside the thickness debate, several leaks suggest the iPhone 18 Pro series will also be heavier than the current lineup. According to tipsters Instant Digital and Ice Universe, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to weigh around 240 grams, which would make it 7 grams heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 233 grams, and 13 grams heavier than the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 227 grams.
The exact weight of the smaller iPhone 18 Pro model hasn’t been specified in these reports, but it’s similarly expected to weigh more than its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro, which currently comes in at 206 grams. Combined with the rumored thickness increase, this points toward a chunkier, more substantial-feeling device overall, likely tied to internal hardware changes such as battery size or camera components.
3. Black Color Option Could Be Skipped Again
Perhaps the most emotionally charged change for some buyers involves color choices rather than hardware. Industry sources believe there’s a strong chance the iPhone 18 Pro lineup won’t include a black color option, continuing a trend that already frustrated some buyers with the current generation.
The iPhone 17 Pro launched in three colors: Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver, notably skipping both black and dark gray finishes, a decision that disappointed a fair number of Apple fans who preferred a more understated look. Earlier speculation suggested the iPhone 18 Pro might arrive in four colors, including Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Silver, and Black. However, more recent reports suggest the lineup may ultimately be limited to just three options: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, and Silver, once again leaving black out entirely.
According to 9to5Mac’s reporting, if this prediction holds true, it would mean Apple has gone two consecutive years without offering a black iPhone Pro model, a notable streak given how popular black and space gray finishes have historically been across the iPhone Pro lineup.
What This Could Mean for iPhone 18 Pro Buyers
Taken together, these three predicted changes, a possible thickness increase, added weight, and the continued absence of a black color option, suggest Apple may be prioritizing internal hardware upgrades (potentially battery capacity or camera improvements) over maintaining the sleeker, lighter profile of earlier Pro models. Whether that trade-off proves popular with buyers will likely become clearer once official specifications and colors are confirmed ahead of the phone’s expected September launch.
As with all pre-launch reporting, these details come from industry tipsters and should be treated as predictions rather than confirmed facts until Apple makes an official announcement.
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