iPhone 18 Pro could be thicker than its predecessor, leak suggests

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro could be noticeably thicker than its predecessor, according to a new leak. Separate certification filings have also confirmed larger batteries for both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max ahead of the expected September launch.

Leaker Fixed-focus digital cameras, posting on Weibo, said the iPhone 18 Pro's aluminum frame and rear camera housing are set to grow thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro's. The leaker said Apple will continue using the aluminum alloy mid-frame introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro rather than returning to titanium.

The leaker estimated the iPhone 18 Pro will measure between 9.9mm and 10.9mm thick, up from the 8.75mm measurement on the iPhone 17 Pro. The leaker described the final thickness figure as one that will be "somewhat surprising."

The added bulk is reportedly tied to a redesigned main camera system. Apple is said to be introducing the iPhone's first variable aperture lens, a component reported to cost the company 50 percent more than the current fixed-aperture lens. Production of the new module is said to be ramping up at suppliers LG Innotek and Sunny Optical.

Beyond the design change, certification filings from China's 3C authority have confirmed larger battery capacities for both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station shared the figures through a screenshot posted on Weibo. The SIM-card version of the iPhone 18 Pro is listed with a 4,056mAh battery, up from 3,988mAh in the iPhone 17 Pro, a 1.71 percent increase. The eSIM-only version sold in the US moves from 4,252mAh to 4,288mAh, a 0.85 percent increase.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max shows a larger jump. Its SIM-card model is listed with a 5,391mAh battery, up from the 4,823mAh battery in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The eSIM-only US variant rises from 5,088mAh to 5,567mAh.

Apple does not officially publish battery capacities and instead lists expected runtimes on its spec sheets. Battery sizes are typically confirmed through teardowns following launch. Both phones are expected to launch in September alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone.