According to recent posts by leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a noticeably thicker aluminum frame and camera bump compared to the iPhone 17 Pro series. The leaker claims a roughly 2mm increase in overall thickness, based on leaked materials from Tata.
Overall thickness estimated between 9.9 and 10.9 mm
The leaker estimates the new models will measure between 9.9 and 10.9 mm thick, a significant jump from the 8.75 mm of the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. Dummy models from April indicated the camera plateau on the Pro Max would grow to 11.54 mm, up from 11.23 mm. The added bulk is tied to a redesigned main camera system featuring the first variable aperture on an iPhone, which reportedly costs Apple 50% more than the current fixed-aperture lens. Production is ramping up at suppliers LG Innotek and Sunny Optical.
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Aluminum alloy chassis and improved heat dissipation
Apple will continue using an aluminum alloy mid-frame, first introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro, moving away from titanium. The leaker praises heat dissipation as "indeed excellent" but warns about potential discoloration and chipping issues seen on some iPhone 17 Pro units. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to launch this September alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone. For those considering an iPhone 17 Pro, these leaks suggest waiting for the next generation, though the increased thickness may not appeal to everyone. Similar to how Samsung Messages shut down in the US, hardware changes can impact user experience. To learn more about variable aperture technology, visit Wikipedia.
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Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/07/iphone-18-pro-could-be-noticeably-thicker
