Is the iPhone 17 Pro too orange for you? Or is it too bold and ‘in-your-face’? If there are enough non-financial reasons that compel you to avoid getting the new iPhone 17 Pro, next year’s iPhone 18 series seems set to be a game-changer. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to bring more design refinements next year, along with a host of internal spec upgrades and new features.
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max bring a major redesign to consumers, utilising an aluminium unibody design and a raised camera plateau to pack more potent hardware without sacrificing the visual appeal. Coupled with the new colour options, especially the bright orange colourway, these phones have impressed consumers all across the world. However, the next-gen iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which are expected to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, will bring some unique touches.
iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max to bring minor design changes
Latest development shared by a well-known and rather reliable Chinese tipster, Digital Chat Station, suggests that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may not feature a significant design overhaul. Instead, these phones will retain a similar look to their predecessors, including the prominent camera lens array.
One of the most interesting changes to the design of the iPhone 18 Pro models is the inclusion of a transparent back panel. While a transparent back panel isn’t a new element in modern smartphones, Apple’s implementation could be an interesting one, giving the bold design of the Pro models a fresh touch. It may not be as transparent as Nothing’s Phone 3, but you can expect Apple to take inspiration from its Liquid Glass design, which they implemented in iOS 26.
Note that the semi-transparent back panel could be limited to the small Ceramic Shield 2 glass window at the back.
iPhone 18 Pro to get faster internals
The leak also hints at internal changes, speculating that the iPhone 18 Pro series will feature a new built-in stainless steel vapour chamber. This component is expected to be used for enhanced cooling and could be a significant upgrade for performance-intensive tasks. This should help the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max stay cooler than the current-gen iPhone 17 Pro while exposed to gaming or video editing.
These iPhone 18 Pro models are also expected to debut Apple’s 2nm A20 Pro chipset. The new 2nm chip could be breakthrough for giving the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max a huge performance boost while ensuring superior power efficiency.
iPhone 18 Pro expected launch date
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to be unveiled to the world in early September 2026, alongside the iPhone Air 2. These phones are expected to showcase Apple’s premium offering to the world and encourage more consumers to make an upgrade.
That said, the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e could be reserved for a launch later in March 2027, thus giving these two value-centric models their own stage.
