iPhone 17 Pro for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
At the beginning of 2026, rumors surfaced that the iPhone 18 Pro might come with some major design changes. Those were later brushed off as "being lost in translation" (via Mashable), suggesting the Dynamic Island might not be refined this year. And now, a fresh-off-the-oven Weibo leak by Digital Chat Station further reinforces this claim.
iPhone 18 Pro might look pretty much the same
The well-known tipster has just shared that the latest supply chain rumors indicate Apple may not be pushing for an under-display Face ID with its upcoming flagship. Earlier this year, tips indicated that the Cupertino tech giant might be working on redefining the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro, delivering a near-full-screen experience.
If Digital Chat Station is correct, however, Apple could be reusing some of the iPhone 17 Pro molds, indicating that the iPhone 18 Pro might look largely unchanged from the last generation. Supposedly, the large matrix ID design remains the same for another year, with the rumored under-display Face ID debuting on the iPhone 19 Pro.
Recommended For You
Supposedly, the large matrix ID might stay the same on the iPhone 18 Pro. | Image by Weibo
But if it looks the same as the iPhone 17 Pro, how will the next flagship distinguish itself? According to DCS, Apple will rely on internal changes to make the iPhone 18 Pro compelling.
What's the most exciting thing about the iPhone 18 Pro?
Hardware changes could make all the difference
The rumor suggests it could feature an A20 Pro chipset, which is reportedly being built on TSMC's 2nm (N2) process. According to some early leaks, the A20 Pro might utilize a Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) module for the first time.
This allows RAM to be directly integrated on the wafer with the Neutral Engine, GPU and CPU. Supposedly, this approach might deliver improved Apple Intelligence performance and a better battery life.
Digital Chat Station also suggests the upcoming Apple flagship could come with a 5k+ battery (though the tech giant never reveals battery capacity in mAh, using Wh instead), as well as a large-aperture camera. Large-aperture sensors deliver improved low-light photography and faster shutter speeds.
Same situation, different year
It's no secret that Apple doesn't usually rely on massive design overhauls for its smartphones, relying instead on incremental changes to make each lineup more 'refined' than the last. But what confuses me is why this is going on year after year.
Adding the latest hardware is way more important than tweaking the design (at least for me), but I wouldn't say a fresh design is unwelcome.
Right now, you can take advantage of Mint Mobile's 5GB 3-month data plan at a solid discount. This 'last chance' promo lets you save $5/mo on the plan, making it simply too good to resist for those looking for a reliable and affordable service.
Polina Kovalakova, a News and Affiliate Content Writer, has nurtured a passion for mobile technology since the era before smartphones. With a history of exploring a variety of devices, her insights into the mobile world are both broad and nuanced. Polina's non-partisan view extends to appreciating nearly every smartphone brand, a reflection of her open-minded approach to technology. Polina is equally passionate about uncovering the best online deals, tirelessly working to ensure her readers snag top-tier tech at unbeatable prices.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: