Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro could be noticeably thicker than the current iPhone 17 Pro, according to a new rumor shared by a leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
In a post published today, a leaker known as “Fixed Focus Digital” claimed the thickness of the iPhone 18 Pro Max “will indeed be somewhat surprising,” suggesting Apple is preparing a more substantial redesign than many had expected.
The leaker also claimed that Apple will continue using aluminum alloy mid-frames on its Pro models rather than returning to titanium. Apple introduced the aluminum frame with the iPhone 17 Pro, and the latest rumor suggests the material will remain part of the company’s premium iPhone lineup for the foreseeable future.
Citing what were described as leaked materials from Apple’s manufacturing partner Tata, the leaker said both the overall chassis and the rear camera plateau on the iPhone 18 Pro will be thicker than those of the current generation. The report points to an overall increase of around 2 mm, although it is unclear how much of that increase will come from the phone itself and how much will be attributed to a larger camera bump.
If accurate, the extra thickness could allow Apple to include a larger battery, upgraded camera hardware, or improved cooling for the A20 Pro chip, although the leaker did not provide any details on the reason behind the change.
The iPhone 18 lineup is expected to be one of Apple’s biggest shake-ups in years. Apple is widely rumored to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, a new iPhone Air, and its first foldable iPhone during its September event, while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are expected to launch separately in spring 2027 as part of a new split release strategy.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently said Apple’s iPhone 18 event is most likely to take place on Wednesday, September 9, with pre-orders potentially opening on Thursday, September 10.