iPhone 18 Pro Design Leak: Thicker and More Powerful?

Is the iPhone 18 Pro About to Get a Major Design Shift?

The rumor mill surrounding the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max is officially spinning, and the biggest point of contention? Just how thick these phones are actually going to be. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for Apple enthusiasts trying to nail down the specs.

Back in April, early dummy unit leaks suggested a noticeable increase in thickness. But then, June brought a pivot: a generally reliable tipster claimed the devices would mirror the current 8.75mm profile of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Fast forward to today, and that same source is doubling down on the bulkier design, suggesting we could be looking at an increase of about 2mm.

If this holds true, the iPhone 18 Pro would push past the 1cm mark. While that is technically feasible, you have to wonder if Apple is keen on those specific numbers showing up on a spec sheet—it is quite the departure from their usual push for razor-thin aesthetics.

Why the extra bulk?

There are some logical reasons why a thicker frame might be inevitable this year. Rumors suggest both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are set to feature variable aperture main cameras, a sophisticated piece of hardware that naturally requires a bit more internal real estate. On top of that, we are expecting upgraded, larger batteries to keep up with the increased power demands of next-gen mobile tech.

While 2mm sounds like a small number on paper, it is a significant change in the world of smartphone ergonomics. Whether those cameras and batteries really demand that much extra space remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: Apple is clearly prioritizing performance and hardware capabilities over keeping the chassis as slim as possible. We will have to wait for more concrete leaks to see if the “Pro” models truly break the 1cm barrier.