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According to recent leaks, the iPhone 18 will look very similar to its predecessor. The most noticeable change is expected to be the color options – a radical redesign will be reserved for the 2027 anniversary model.
While rumors are swirling about the iPhone Fold and the 2027 iPhone anniversary model, the picture for the regular iPhone 18 is considerably calmer. Several leakers have independently confirmed that the biggest external change for this year's iPhone generation will be the colors – not the shape.
Hardly any Design changes for the iPhone 18
Weibo-based leaker Fixed Focus Digital has clarified in a new post that Apple is largely foregoing innovative design experiments with the iPhone 18. According to the leak, technologies already common among Android manufacturers – such as under-display cameras or strongly curved displays – will not be used.
Instead, Apple is sticking with the current design concept: The bezel width and basic shape remain largely unchanged. The updates primarily focus on new color options. This applies to both the standard and Pro models of the iPhone 18.
While the iPhone 18 Pro does feature some minor adjustments, such as a smaller Dynamic Island and a more uniform back design, it is not a true redesign.
Colors as a key distinguishing feature
Apple's increasing reliance on color as a differentiating factor was already evident with the iPhone 17 Pro. The introduction of Cosmic Orange was an unexpected success – especially in Asia. According to Bloomberg, Apple is internally testing a new color called Deep Red for the iPhone 18 Pro, which could be positioned as a new premium color. A black model is once again not planned.
Fresh color palettes are also expected to be a focus for the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e models. Specific details about the colors of the non-Pro models haven't leaked yet, but Apple's strategy of recent years – positioning each generation with at least one new accent color – is likely to continue.
The reason: The major redesign is coming in 2027
Apple's decision to forgo radical changes with the iPhone 18 isn't a sign of a lack of ideas – it's a sign of planning. A fundamentally new design is expected for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027. Reports indicate that Apple is working on a nearly bezel-less display with quadruple-curved glass, haptic buttons, and possibly a completely new casing concept.
The iPhone 18 thus serves as an evolutionary intermediate model – technically upgraded by the new A20 Pro chip in 2nm manufacturing, a proprietary C2 modem and improved camera hardware, but externally deliberately kept close to its predecessor.
iPhone 18: Still lots of new features under the hood
Even though the design remains largely unchanged, the iPhone 18 Pro brings significant upgrades beneath the surface. In addition to the new chip and modem, a camera with a variable aperture is expected, which should offer considerable advantages in low-light conditions. The battery is likely to exceed 5,000 mAh for the first time, and Apple is aiming for a more harmonious integration of materials between aluminum and Ceramic Shield in the casing.
Anyone hoping for a completely new iPhone experience will have to wait until 2027. However, those looking for current technology in a familiar design should be well served by the iPhone 18 – provided it comes in the right color. (Image: Shutterstock / Stockinq)
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