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The iPhone 18 Pro is so much thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro

If you thought that the iPhone 17 Pro was too thick, wait until you get your hands on the iPhone 18 Pro later this year.

Blue iPhone 18 Pro Max dummy unit
The color selection for the iPhone 18 Pro is just one of its many strengths. | Image by Jon Rettinger
Though prior reports have alleged that the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max are thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro models, a new leak paints a much clearer picture. Apple is introducing a killer new feature because of which the chassis of the new Pro models has had to follow the trend set by their predecessors, getting thicker instead of slimmer.

iPhone 18 Pro thickness




According to a new report (translated source), the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models could range anywhere from 9.9-10.9 mm in thickness. This is a big jump over the 8.75 mm thickness of the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and those phones were thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro models which measured in at 8.25 mm.

The exact measurement still remains unknown, but what’s certain is that Apple has completely stopped caring about how thick its Pro models get. As I’ve said before, I believe that the company wants the iPhone Air to become the go-to iPhone model so that the Pro models can be truly professional pieces of kit, no matter how thick or unwieldy they might have to become.

What would get you to switch to the iPhone Air over the Pro?
18 Votes


Make way for a new camera!


But why is the iPhone 18 Pro going to be so much thicker than its predecessor? This is because, as very early reports had revealed, Apple was apparently able to stuff a variable aperture in its upcoming flagships.

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The camera on the iPhone 18 Pro models will have an aperture that a user can adjust themselves, controlling exactly how much light hits the sensor, leading to much better photography capabilities. In addition, the iPhone 18 Pro models will also be equipped with larger batteries.

The iPhone 18 Pro is going to come with a battery capacity of 4,288 mAh. For comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro has a battery capacity of 4,252 mAh.

More impressive, however, is the jump in battery capacity for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The 18 Pro Max will ship with a battery capacity of 5,567 mAh. For comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has a battery capacity of 5,088 mAh and this year’s Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a battery capacity of 5,000 mAh.

So the iPhone 18 Pro Max will likely boast much longer battery life compared to its predecessor.

Some other goodies in a neat and tidy package




Overall, the iPhone 18 Pro models are launching with a number of features that might make them an enticing option this year, even though the remarkable iPhone 20 Pro is coming next year.

For starters, the iPhone 18 Pro will — according to the latest reports and leaks — feature a smaller Dynamic Island as the Face ID component might be moved below the display. In addition, these will be the first iPhone models that will be powered by 2 nm chipsets.

The chassis, alongside the increased thickness, will likely feature rear glass panels that blend in with the color of the body a lot better than the ones on the iPhone 17 Pro models. Speaking of colors, the Dark Cherry iPhone 18 Pro might be reason enough for many customers to pull the trigger this year.

The aforementioned larger batteries and the variable aperture are also going to be very strong selling points, and some power users might want to experience the efficiency bonuses of Apple’s new in-house modem. This modem chip will rid the Pro models of Qualcomm modems, at least in some regions according to reports.

Personally, I’d advise skipping this one




Don’t get me wrong, the iPhone 18 Pro will be one of the best smartphones of the year, especially as the base iPhone 18 will probably launch early next year. However, I would still advise waiting for the iPhone 20 Pro for the 20th anniversary of the iPhone in 2027.

There are too many massive upgrades planned for the 20 Pro to make the iPhone 18 Pro seem like a worthwhile purchase, in my opinion. Especially considering the fact that Apple is raising prices across the board for its upcoming phones due to the memory crisis.
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