iPhone 17 Pro Cases Fit iPhone 18 Pro - Or At Least Otterbox Thinks So

[MacRumors]

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman noted on X (Twitter) today that Otterbox is already selling iPhone 18 Pro cases at Best Buy. While the timing is early for a new iPhone that isn't expected to launch until mid-September, what's more interesting is that Otterbox's packaging indicates the iPhone 18 Pro will fit iPhone 17 Pro cases and vice versa.

Gurman passed on the packaging detail without saying whether he agrees with the implied sizing, but rumors suggest the iPhone 18 Pro lineup will largely retain the same design as the iPhone 17 Pro models. However, at least two leakers have claimed that the iPhone 18 Pro Max could be thicker and heavier than its predecessor, owing to its larger battery.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro Cases Fit iPhone 18 Pro - Or At Least Otterbox Thinks So

 

[abatabia]

Next week he will post that they won’t. The week after he will post that they may or may not. Then after the event he will circle back and reshare that hey, look, he predicted the result.

 

[H2SO4]

I've been Otterbox for as long as I can remember, (great cases), but this time I might try Mous.

 

[Kaiserschmarrn]

So it's definitely not getting thicker, unless Otterbox royally screwed up which I doubt.

 

[foobarbaz]

It could be the other way around: They're already making new cases that are slightly thicker, but the old phones will still fit (with a bigger lip around the screen).

 

[Porco]

Don’t we all have that one generous pair of jeans that can accommodate a gluttonous meal out from time to time? Maybe it’s like that.

 

[Haiku_Oezu]

Next week he will post that they won’t. The week after he will post that they may or may not. Then after the event he will circle back and reshare that hey, look, he predicted the result.

I like to dunk of Mark as much as the next guy but this is one of the few times he’s actually just reporting

Unless that photo is fake Otterbox is actually advertising 18 Pro compatibility on existing cases. If that does get walked back it will be on Otterbox, not Gurman.

 

[widestload]

Brilliant 🤦🏻‍♂️. When for the first time in 12 years I’m considering not upgrading this year, old cases can fit new phones 😩. Also meaning any potential drop in old case prices as people move to new ones might not be realised. Ugh!

 

[CyberGene]

I ordered a few Chinese cases for my iPhone 17 PM from AliExpress and they arrived yesterday. On one of them, on the internal side, there’s a stamp “IP 17/18 PM”.

 

[klasma]

Next week he will post that they won’t. The week after he will post that they may or may not. Then after the event he will circle back and reshare that hey, look, he predicted the result.

He’s reporting on what is printed on the packaging currently available at Best Buy.

 

[All Taken]

It's almost as if Mark lost his 'insider knowledge' quite a long time ago. I get the same reliability asking my neighbour Meg about when the new Apple TV is coming and if it will be purple. She always says to ask her again tomorrow because the wind changes.

EDIT: Mark, I see you, make more accounts to dislike what I said, it doesn't change it being true.

 

[johannnn]

My guess:

• 18 Pro: cases can be re-used, not gonna have crazy battery or crazy camera. $100 increase
• 18 Pro Max: crazy battery (i.e. thicker) and crazy camera. $250 increase

 

[IIGS User]

I’ve got a 16PM and the case is 2 years old so it was new case for me anyway.

I’m inclined to believe Otter primarily because of the money factor. There’s a lot of money in cases and making slight little changes to the phone so that you need a new case. If they could SOME HOW make it so you needed a new case going from the 17 to the 18 that would be happening.

 

[pakupakuman]

Gurman passed on the packaging detail without saying whether he agrees with the implied sizing,

Why would he have to agree? He’s just pointing out what he found out - BestBuy is selling a case marked as for the 18.

 

[falconxp]

Switched from Otterbox to a Nomad Rugged case with my iPhone 16 Pro as I didn’t like Otterbox implementation of the new camera button. Bought the same case for my 17Pro as I really like it. If true it would safe me a couple of bucks for the 18Pro.

 

[Dark enV]

They're not the only ones doing this. Torras cases sold on TVC Mall are showing they are compatible with both the 17 Pro and 18 Pro. Dummy units showed 17 Pro cases fit as well so I'm not too surprised.

 

[btrach144]

It's almost as if Mark lost his 'insider knowledge' quite a long time ago. I get the same reliability asking my neighbour Meg about when the new Apple TV is coming and if it will be purple. She always says to ask her again tomorrow because the wind changes.

Couldn’t agree more. Dude has had no actual leaks in forever. It’s the Mark desert and we aren’t getting actual news from him.

I’m so glad macrumors isn’t doing the ads for him anymore.

 

[StuBeck]

This is great. The tiny performance gains from making devices slightly different sizes run counter to the whole idea of "reuse" with a new consumer purchase. Recycling is the failure state, and allowing people to reuse a case they like, rather than panic buy one at the store and then buy another at a later point, should actually help the environment.

 

[svish]

Will be good if the phone does not gain any additional thickness. Pro Max getting a larger battery and improved camera is good but will most likely be thicker.

 

[ThisIsMike]

i’m guessing this also saves Apple some money, and they are probably looking for any cost savings they can find on iPhone manufacturing at the moment.

 

[zarmanto]

So that's all very interesting, and the 17 Pro/18 Pro case image tells one side of the story pretty clearly -- but has anyone come across an image or a product actually labeled for the 17 Pro Max/18 Pro Max?

After all, it's still perfectly plausible that the increased size only applies to the Max.

 

[louis^]

Always Gurmanrumors.com. Unfortunately it is pretty boring.

 

[mansplains]

There’s no way, letting a case be reused instead of the annual $60 for $1 worth of plastic? I’ve seen [one of] the Otterbox founder’s houses here in northern CO, they’ve got plenty of money. As do other case manufacturers, it’s like Disney and merchandising rights.

 

[zarmanto]

... As do other case manufacturers, it’s like Disney and merchandising rights.

George Lucas must have been in a competition with Disney to see who could be the most laser-focused on merchandising...

(The behind the scenes story on that is actually pretty funny.)

 

[CyberGene]

I ordered a few Chinese cases for my iPhone 17 PM from AliExpress and they arrived yesterday. On one of them, on the internal side, there’s a stamp “IP 17/18 PM”.

Here’s a pic:

Pretty nice case BTW: