iPhone 18 Pro design tipped to be mostly unchanged from iPhone 17 Pro — which doesn't surprise me

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

If you're a fan of the iPhone 17 Pro's new design, but still don't plan on picking up a new device this year, you're in luck. Because Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station claims that the iPhone 18 Pro should stick with the same kind of design next year.

DCS claims that the iPhone 18 Pro engineering prototype has a rectangular camera housing, with a camera arrangement that looks identical to iPhone 17 Pro. The phone is also said to retain the 6.3-inch display (or 6.9-inch for the Pro Max) and stainless steel vapor chamber. However, there may be some smaller tweaks, like a "subtle transparent finish" on the phone's rear glass panel.

More of the same

iPhone 17 Pro review. — (Image credit: Tom's Guide / John Velasco)

Naturally, since the phone is still a prototype, things can (and almost certainly will) change between now and the iPhone 18 Pro's launch event. Though I would be surprised if Apple ditched the new unibody design after a single generation, especially given all the physical benefits the raised camera bar is supposed to offer.

In the comments, DCS also reiterated rumors that the standard iPhone 18 "may be delayed." We've heard that rumor before, with claims that Apple could release the iPhone 18 alongside the iPhone 18e. That would be five or six months after the normal Fall release window, where Apple is expected to launch iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and the iPhone Fold.

Outlook

It's a move I'm not exactly thrilled about, assuming it actually plays out that way. It makes very little sense to release a Pro model without a standard iPhone 18 to compare it to. Then again, DCS's comment implies that it might not happen — which would definitely be the smarter move, in my opinion.

It's all still very early, and with the iPhone 18 launch not happening for almost a year, there's still plenty of time for plans to change — or for early rumors to be debunked. So we'll just have to see how this all plays out over the course of the next 12 months.

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Tom is the Tom's Guide's UK Phones Editor, tackling the latest smartphone news and vocally expressing his opinions about upcoming features or changes. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining about how terrible his Smart TV is.

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