Latest iPhone 18 Pro Max Dummies Suggest Thicker Camera Plateau, More Protruding Lenses

[MacRumors]

Apple is expected to bring several camera enhancements to the iPhone 18 Pro models this year, but there have been no fixed rumors suggesting these upgrades will require measurable, visible changes to the device's rear camera plateau. And yet a new series of dummies suggests exactly that.

iPhone 17 Pro dummy (left) vs. iPhone 18 Pro (image: Vadim Yuryev)​

YouTube channel Max Tech's Vadim Yuryev recently shared images of dummy units for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max – as well as Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone. Dummy units are typically created by third-party case makers based on information that leaks out of Apple's partner factories.

Yuryev says the dummy units have "much thicker cameras... The black glass on the cameras protrudes a bit more too." He also says the camera plateau itself is "a bit thicker" than on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and he provided the above image for comparison. The silver unit is the iPhone 18 Pro Max dummy, while the blue is an iPhone 17 Pro Max dummy. Other than the rear triple lens camera system, the two device's dimensions are said to be extremely similar – same thickness, but a slight height (.36mm) and width (.39mm) increase on the 18 Pro Max unit.

Yuryev says he stands by the accuracy of the iPhone 18 Pro dummies, claiming they should be "spot on" like the iPhone 17 Pro dummy units he received last year, presumably from the same source – which we believe to be Sonny Dickson.

The Main camera in the iPhone 18 Pro could have a variable aperture, which would provide users with more control over how their photos look. iPhone users would be able to manually adjust how much light gets to the sensor, cutting down on overexposure and providing new customization options for lighting and depth of field.

The Telephoto lens in the iPhone 18 Pro models could also feature a larger aperture, allowing for more light in poor lighting conditions.

At least one of the iPhone 18 Pro models could also feature a new three-layer stacked image sensor developed by Samsung. The advanced image sensor would make the camera more responsive, plus it could cut down on noise, increase dynamic range, and more.

Will any of these upgrades necessitate a larger camera module? Theoretically, but no leak has explicitly said the lenses on either 18 Pro model will stick out more or that the camera plateau will get thicker. It's especially surprising given that the industry is actively targeting flat or near-flush camera systems in future devices, but Apple could well be taking a different tack.

We'll know for sure when the devices arrive around mid-September alongside the company's first foldable iPhone.

Update: Since this story was published, Yuryev has shared some more comparative dimensions: The total thickness of the iPhone 18 Pro Max including camera plateau is said to be 11.54mm (vs. 11.23mm on the iPhone 17 Pro Max), while total thickness including camera lens bumps is 13.77mm (vs. 12.92mm on the iPhone 17 Pro Max).

Article Link: Latest iPhone 18 Pro Max Dummies Suggest Thicker Camera Plateau, More Protruding Lenses

 

[zilchfox]

One thing I don’t like about protruding larger cameras is how badly it wears down my pants pocket.

 

[michsu]

Well, a dummy sure made them, because there's still not much design changes..

 

[johannnn]

Well if that’s necessary to give us better cameras then sure

Just look at surveys. Battery and camera is everything people care about

 

[winxmac]

Apple, we need a modern version of this:

Or even if it's as big as a Pro Max, so long as the back is completely flat like the Google Pixel 10a

 

[svanstrom]

I mean, long-term the path forward is to essentially have the whole phone and camera in the bump. With the rest being dedicated to screen, battery, and hinges to unfold the screen…

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Well if that’s necessary to give us better cameras then sure

Just look at surveys. Battery and camera is everything people care about

Like the saying goes, the best camera you have is the one you have on you.

 

[winxmac]

Like the saying goes, the best camera you have is the one you have on you.

so long as it does not overprocess

 

[whitby]

I am already finding the current Pro Max and Pro phones too bulky and heavy and this seems to indicate that, far from making new models slimmer and lighter, they are making them larger and, probably, heavier. It’s like travelling with a brick in your pocket.

I know that there are the laws of physics to contend with here if you want better cameras, but this is getting a little past funny and phone cameras are never going to be as good as dedicated cameras, so this constant size increase to accommodate these compromised image takers with their AI based processing seems to defeat the purpose of a functional take anywhere device. Let’s hope the Air in its second iteration is less compromised because I suspect that is where my money for my next phone is probably going. And, not to go on about this, how about making them so they do not self destruct when dropped without a case?

 

[Radeon85]

That's all the cameras do these days: get thicker. I'm all for better image quality, but it's going to get to a point where it looks ridiculous.

Future bumps will look like this at this rate if they keep making them thicker.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Bring it on. I'll be upgrading for the camera.

 

[Swissfashion]

I imagine the iPhone 25 will look like this

 

[Radeon85]

I imagine the iPhone 25 will look like this

Apple will make it a new accessory opportunity to sell lens covers.

 

[ChrisMac47]

That's all the cameras do these days: get thicker. I'm all for better image quality, but it's going to get to a point where it looks ridiculous.

Future bumps will look like this at this rate if they keep making them thicker.

It's a big problem. The physics is clear ... for better image quality IQ, the camera has to be thicker (more exactly, the lens diameter has to be larger, and for a fixed f-number that means a thicker camera). Machine learning can tweak IQ but only so far before hallucination sets in.

That's why I think at some point in the future there will be a complete change of form factor (shape) for phones ... it's the only way to incorporate a better camera. The present shape is dominated by the large flat display. There are all kinds of possibilities for change if the display is offloaded to another device (such as glasses). Perhaps in 2035?

 

[CloudChief]

I wonder if the sensors will be a little bigger this year then.

 

[Velora Bloom]

It sounds like it’s time to break apart the “pro” camera features from phones that still appeal to the masses. They’re now at a point where the phone is just rather ugly and annoying to keep with you for most people while not offering enough pro features for professionals. Maybe that’s a direction that could by undertaken by the new CEO. They say he’s good at making decisions and has a technology first mindset. Apple could make a Pro line with professional features and a Plus or whatever line with awesome cameras that’s still easy to take with you and can be laid down on a table.

 

[MacStudioPlease]

The camera "plateau" is going to look like a home extension in the coming years, isn't it.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

It sounds like it’s time to break apart the “pro” camera features from phones that still appeal to the masses. They’re now at a point where the phone is just rather ugly and annoying to keep with you for most people while not offering enough pro features for professionals. Maybe that’s a direction that could by undertaken by the new CEO. They say he’s good at making decisions and has a technology first mindset. Apple could make a Pro line with professional features and a Plus or whatever line with awesome cameras that’s still easy to take with you and can be laid down on a table.

What makes Pro a Pro other than the cameras? Other then camera quality the whole line up all of the way down to the “e” line can do the exact same things (maybe imperceptibly slower, but the same).

 

[The Game 161]

hopefully battery is improved and so is the camera hardware.

 

[ophh1]

At this point just make a retractable zoom lenses like compact cameras do.

 

[Zenman12]

Thicc ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

 

[MacRazySwe]

It just keeps getting uglier.

 

[AncTreat5358]

It's a big problem. The physics is clear ... for better image quality IQ, the camera has to be thicker (more exactly, the lens diameter has to be larger, and for a fixed f-number that means a thicker camera). Machine learning can tweak IQ but only so far before hallucination sets in.

That's why I think at some point in the future there will be a complete change of form factor (shape) for phones ... it's the only way to incorporate a better camera. The present shape is dominated by the large flat display. There are all kinds of possibilities for change if the display is offloaded to another device (such as glasses). Perhaps in 2035?

This is an intriguing thought experiment.

 

[ry-guy]

Apple, we need a modern version of this:

Or even if it's as big as a Pro Max, so long as the back is completely flat like the Google Pixel 10a

I agree…..but theres no more room. Theres a display where the top bezel was on 5s/SE, and bigger front camera module with FaceID. And the lens is like 3x(maybe 4) the size of that old one. It could be flat but that would be a CHONKY phone.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I agree…..but theres no more room. Theres a display where the top bezel was on 5s/SE, and bigger front camera module with FaceID. And the lens is like 3x(maybe 4) the size of that old one. It could be flat but that would be a CHONKY phone.

Than bring back a bezel. There's no reason to have an edge-to-edge screen.

That extra space can be used to increase speaker depth and camera size. That's a trade off I'd willingly take.