iPhone 18 Pro May Drop Rear Two-Tone Appearance for a Unified Look

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could drop the current two-tone look of the rear casing found on the iPhone 17 Pro in favor of a more seamless aesthetic, if a Chinese leaker is reporting correct information.

iPhone 17 Pro Colors
On existing iPhone 17 Pro models, Apple has used a glass cutout at the back for MagSafe charging, and there is a color difference between the aluminum frame of the iPhone 17 Pro and the Ceramic Shield 2 cutout, giving the iPhone 17 Pro models a two-tone look.

That's set to change for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, according to known Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital. For the next-generation models, Apple has apparently updated the back-glass "replacement process" to minimize the color difference between the glass and the aluminum frame, resulting in a more unified appearance.

The claim could well dovetail with a separate rumor, also originating out of China, that said the Ceramic Shield will feature a "slightly transparent design." The latter description came in September courtesy of leaker Digital Chat Station, who also said the iPhone 18 Pro models will feature an otherwise similar design to the iPhone 17 Pro models.

Instant Digital, the author of today's rumor, has accurately leaked Apple information before, such as the Yellow finish for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2's Titanium Milanese Loop. However, the account does not have a perfect track record.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are reported to feature A20 Pro chips, fabricated with TSMC's latest 2nm process, and Apple's C2 modem rather than a Qualcomm modem. Both models are expected to launch alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone in September 2026.

Related Roundup: iPhone 18
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

MacUserFella Avatar
12 weeks ago
Of course, they design a phone I’m happy with, and then they say “Actually, nah”
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrono1081 Avatar
12 weeks ago
I'll buy it when it looks like an Apple device again. This was the first year I've skipped getting a phone since the iPhone 7.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gengar Avatar
12 weeks ago
They have to make it obvious you bought an 18 series, somehow.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
12 weeks ago

Of course, they design a phone I’m happy with, and then they say “Actually, nah”
...says the user who also wants Apple to discontinue the iPhone Air.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
12 weeks ago

If they change their mind and keep the two-tone look and the plateau I'd go with a more polished version of this. A bit like 1st gen iPhone SE.




Thank you for posting the SE1 ... You just made my morning.

Man, I really miss devices like the SE1. ?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FlyingDutch Avatar
12 weeks ago

It's not complicated. They moved to titanium to reduce weight, but it made the phone operating hotter, so they figured out aluminium worked better after all with heat dissipation. What's more, this is not like iPhone 16 Pro which featured glass over the entire back. This is about decreasing the amount of rear glass to increase the amount of rear aluminium to aid heat dissipation. This combined with the chamber makes the phone more useable. The rumour for 18 Pro isn't a reversal of this, it's purely a colour change. Did you read the article?
What about using titanium for the frame ? I think money and not heat dissipation drove the decision towards aluminum
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)