Apple’s next premium smartphones could be getting a noticeable design change, with fresh leaks suggesting the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro will be thicker than the current model while offering larger batteries across the Pro lineup.
The latest information comes from well known tipsters on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, where new details have emerged just weeks before Apple’s expected September launch event.
According to leaker Fixed-focus Digital Cameras, the iPhone 18 Pro will feature a thicker aluminium frame and a larger rear camera housing than the iPhone 17 Pro. Apple is also expected to stick with the aluminium alloy mid-frame introduced on the iPhone 17 Pro instead of switching back to titanium.
The leak claims the phone’s thickness could increase to somewhere between 9.9mm and 10.9mm. That would make it noticeably chunkier than the iPhone 17 Pro, which measures 8.75mm thick. While the exact dimensions remain uncertain, the leaker suggested the final figure could surprise users.
The extra thickness is believed to be linked to a major camera upgrade. Reports suggest Apple is preparing to introduce its first variable aperture camera lens on an iPhone. Unlike a fixed aperture lens, a variable aperture can adjust the amount of light entering the camera, potentially improving image quality in different lighting conditions and giving photographers greater creative control.
The new camera module is also expected to be significantly more expensive for Apple to produce. According to the leak, the component costs around 50 percent more than the existing fixed aperture system, with suppliers LG Innotek and Sunny Optical reportedly increasing production ahead of launch.
Battery upgrades could also be on the way.
Separate certification documents from China’s 3C authority indicate that both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will receive larger batteries than their predecessors.
The iPhone 18 Pro’s SIM card version is listed with a 4,056mAh battery, slightly higher than the 3,988mAh battery in the current model. The US eSIM version is also expected to receive a small increase.
The biggest improvement appears to be reserved for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Certification filings suggest its battery capacity could jump to 5,391mAh for the SIM version, while the US eSIM model may reach 5,567mAh.
Apple does not officially disclose battery capacities, instead focusing on battery life estimates during product launches. The exact figures are usually confirmed only after independent teardowns.
The iPhone 18 series is widely expected to debut in September, with reports also pointing to the arrival of Apple’s first foldable iPhone at the same event.
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