A Familiar Design with Subtle Refinements
When Apple unveils the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, likely on September 9, according to Forbes, the design will be a central focus for prospective customers. This year, the design is expected to look very similar to the current model, retaining the aluminum frame and full-width camera panel introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro. Those changes, which replaced the titanium edge and all-glass back of the iPhone 16 Pro, are expected to remain in place for the 18 Pro series.
However, there will be differences. While the colors of the glass panel and aluminum surround are noticeably distinct on the current model, Forbes reports that there will be greater uniformity this time. The two elements will still be distinguishable — as different materials, making them look identical would be difficult — but there is likely to be more alignment.
There have also been reports about the size of the next iPhones. Notably, Otterbox is already selling a case that is compatible with both the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro, suggesting an identical size for both phones. That still leaves room for design changes; for instance, the leaker known as Fixed Focus Digital has rumored that camera upgrades may lead to a thicker camera plateau. This report specifically said that the aluminum alloy back plate size increased by 2mm.
A New Hero Color and a Fourth Option
Apple's colors are always a strong source of interest, for customers and rival brands alike. The current iPhone 17 Pro is available in Cosmic Orange, Silver, and Deep Blue. For the iPhone 18 Pro, reports suggest that the Cosmic Orange hero color will not be carried over. Instead, the hero color is predicted to be a dark cherry color — a burgundy with purple undertones, possibly named 'Plum'.
Reports also suggest that there will be a total of four colors this year, not three. Silver is expected to remain as an option, but likely in a different shade, and the fourth color is likely to be a light blue. Additionally, while there is no dark gray or black in the current iPhone 17 Pro range, the traditional shade looks set to return for the iPhone 18 Pro.
The Foldable iPhone's More Restrained Palette
Looking further ahead, the foldable iPhone is expected to be available in silver or white, and possibly black or dark navy. According to Forbes, these colors are more restrained and businesslike than those expected for the iPhone 18 Pro.
As the September 9 unveiling approaches, more details are likely to emerge, but for now, the design and color choices for the iPhone 18 Pro appear to be a continuation of the current aesthetic with a few notable twists. Potential buyers will be watching closely to see how these predictions pan out.