iPhone 18 Pro: Why the camera bump is growing Apfelpatient

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The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to look very similar to its predecessor – with one striking exception. The camera bump is rumored to be noticeably larger, and there's a solid technical reason for this. Leaked dimensions and a clue from the supply chain paint a picture of a significantly thicker camera bump.

Conflicting information about the dimensions of the iPhone 18 Pro has been circulating for months. Last fall, it was said that the Pro and Pro Max would be thicker and heavier overall than the iPhone 17 Pro. Now, evidence is mounting that this increase will be limited to a single area: the camera module. The rest of the body is expected to remain virtually unchanged in thickness. These details fit with the overall picture of the iPhone 18 Pro known so far, in which the camera is considered the key innovation.

Only one area will thicken

The most concrete evidence came back in April with a hands-on video of dummy models published by YouTuber Vadir Yuryev. It showed that the thickness of the platform, including the cameras, on the iPhone 18 Pro is significantly greater than that of the iPhone 17 Pro. While earlier reports suggested a thicker casing all around, everything now indicates that the rest of the body will remain identical.

Model	Thickness including cameras
iPhone 18 Pro Max	13.77 mm
iPhone 17 Pro Max	12.92 mm

The majority of this increase is due to the cameras themselves, but the aluminum plate is also expected to be slightly thicker. This confirms what a leak regarding the iPhone 18 Pro Max's case thickness already suggested: the increase is concentrated on the back around the camera module.

The reason: a larger sensor with a variable aperture

An explanation for the size increase comes from a post by Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station. According to him, the iPhone 18 Pro series will feature a particularly large 48-megapixel sensor with a variable aperture. A variable aperture for the main camera has been rumored for some time, but the emphasis on sheer sensor size is crucial for the overall thickness: larger sensors and lenses simply require more space.

Apple has steadily increased the size of its iPhone camera lenses over the years, and this trend is likely to continue. The fact that the new imaging technology is not only thicker but also more expensive fits the pattern – reports indicate that the new camera will cost Apple around 50 percent more.

Larger lenses as the price for better photos

Taken together, the new ultra-large sensor, the variable aperture, and the rumored improvements to the telephoto lens paint a clear picture: The camera bump on the iPhone 18 Pro is likely to increase noticeably not only in area but also in height, and the individual lenses would also be larger. Apple is apparently accepting a more pronounced camera bump for more ambitious photography – whether this will be bothersome in everyday use or barely noticeable can only be judged on the finished device. (Image: Shutterstock / Stockinq)