No Major Design Changes Coming to iPhone 18 Models, Leaker Claims

[MacRumors]

The iPhone 18 lineup will not feature signifiant design changes, according to the leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital."

The Weibo user claims that since the iPhone 17 lineup proved to be successful with high sales, the iPhone 18 models likely won't have major changes to their appearance. Rather than promoting design changes, Apple is apparently likely to heavily emphasize advancements made with the A20 and A20 Pro chip, which will likely be the first 2nm Apple silicon chips. This upgrade is anticipated to be a key point of discussion around the new devices later this year.

The iPhone 17 Pro models saw a major redesign, following two years of the same design across the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro. The iPhone 12 Pro, 13 Pro, and 14 Pro also largely shared the same design, as did the iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone 11 Pro. Successive generation-over-generation flagship iPhone redesigns would be unprecedented, making it highly likely that the iPhone 18 Pro will look very similar to the device currently on sale.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch later this year, featuring a smaller Dynamic Island, the C2 modem, a simplified Camera Control, a 24-megapixel front-facing camera, and an upgraded main camera with a variable aperture. The iPhone 18 is expected to follow in early 2027, touting many of the same upgrades.



Article Link: No Major Design Changes Coming to iPhone 18 Models, Leaker Claims

 

[Achillias]

That wouldn’t matter to me either. I currently have the iPhone Air and I plan to keep it for at least the next three years. I’m actually more excited about picking up my 2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance this week 😄.

 

[code-m]

Anyone actually expecting the exterior to change after getting a revamp in 2025.

Smaller DI, okay but nothing major otherwise other than changes to the camera button tech on the inside.

 

[Yr Blues]

No innovations. No new ideas. Just incremental changes for marketing purposes only.

 

[dominiongamma]

No innovations. No new ideas. Just incremental changes for marketing purposes only.

What kind of innovations you looking for? I’ve see no ideas from people on here besides complain

 

[PeteS1963]

Will the Pro’s come in black?

 

[code-m]

What kind of innovations you looking for? I’ve see no ideas from people on here besides complain

New colours. /s 😝

 

[code-m]

Will the Pro’s come in black?

Jet Li Black /s

 

[Zc456]

I mean, what is there to improve at this point?

 

[klasma]

What kind of innovations you looking for? I’ve see no ideas from people on here besides complain

A compact, light-weight phone without camera bump could be quite innovative.

 

[t0rqx]

They should fix the electric crackling with shielding when charging.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Next year is the 20th anniversary. That's the one to change more. This year is all about refining and then introducing a new phone (folding one).

 

[johannnn]

Apple is apparently likely to heavily emphasize advancements made with the A20 and A20 Pro chip

So fast chips, yet we have to pay for Liquid Glass and AI in the new iWork lol

 

[sergekills]

No surprises. iPhone 17 Pro is the first model in a three-year upgrade cycle, I believe. Maybe things will shift in 2027, but even if the special anniversary iPhone is actually coming, it doesn't prevent Apple from releasing iPhone 19 Pro in the same design, just like they did with iPhone 8.

 

[SactoGuy18]

A reason for this is that the radicaally changed iPhone XX coming in 2027 will be available in 6.3" and 6.9" sizes, which will replace the current design.

 

[Spinarelo]

Is this even a "leak"? Everybody knows the design is staying the same, other than potentially a smaller dynamic island.... This has been said by every tom dick and harry already.... Also anyone who knows anything about Apple knows they most likely won't change design 1 year later, unless something went wrong.

 

[Falco McGregor]

It seems increasingly likely moving forward that Apple is going to gradually add new iPhone models and stagger the udpates so each yearly cycle potentially has a new form factor/design. They refreshed the Pro models in 2025 and launched the iPhone Air, they'll release the book fold model in 2026, potentially a semi-redesigned Air in 2027 and maybe even the clamshell flip in 2028, while somewhere in there updating the regular model iPhone. It's pretty clear from this year's cycle that consumers need at least one new model or notable design change each year to keep people upgrading at a three- to four-year ownership interval.

 

[svish]

Expecting it to be an incremental and small update only. Waiting to hear more on the colors, especially for the base 18 variant. Would like to see bright colors.

 

[DaveWotzit]

So just a new chip and the O/S upgrade???? Just buy this years and save the cash! That or spend $2k on a fold?

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

What kind of innovations you looking for? I’ve see no ideas from people on here besides complain

The kind of innovations that highly paid designers, engineers and visionaries bring to market. You expect someone on MacRumors to do that for Apple? In all honesty, iPhone 18 is a 17 with a generational improvements.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Will the Pro’s come in black?

You don't put yours in a case? My iPhone 17 PM is blue, but you'd never know it in my slim black case.

 

[rp2011]

Apple has been releasing new devices with new chips and new designs at record speed, It makes sense. As long they keep refining the them that's all that matters. And where they need to refine the most is on the software side other than hardware. The hardware departments have been hitting it out of the park for decades now, the software side has been the one lagging behind.

 

[Mun5on85]

I bought the 15 Pro Max because it was the first model with USB-C and the Dynamic Island, vs my 12 Pro. I don't like Apple switched to aluminum, but I understand the thermal gains. My wife has the 17 Pro Max housed inside the dbrand ghostmark case, and that's been fine, so far. I was hoping for an under-screen face ID to justify waiting 3 generations. If the 18 only gets under-the-hood upgrades, maybe a variable aperture camera, that's disappointing. I'll spend the money on replacing the battery in my phone instead.

 

[macsince2008]

What kind of innovations you looking for? I’ve see no ideas from people on here besides complain

The consumers have a right to look for innovation, if they were the ones suggesting ideas, they would be in the design teams. Stop defending slow progress.

 

[IIGS User]

The belle of this year's ball will be the folding phone anyway. More interested in the 18PM if the screen and camera improve.