Next Year’s iPhone 18 Pro May Walk Back a Controversial Design Change
Irina Iriser
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One of the biggest surprises in this year’s iPhone lineup was Apple’s somewhat radical redesign of its Pro models. While the rumor mill prepared us for the expanded full-width camera bump, the transition to an aluminum unibody with an inset glass back was met with some skepticism — until Apple actually unveiled it.
Whether you love it or hate it, it’s hard to argue that the more “industrial” aesthetic in this year’s models isn’t a radical departure from the sleek glass and titanium/stainless-steel designs of the last few years. Even the vibrant and fun cosmic orange feels like something that would be right at home on a construction site.
However, perhaps the most controversial aspect of the new design was the way Apple combined glass and aluminum, creating an even more pronounced version of the two-tone look that hadn’t been seen since the iPhone 7.
In the years before Apple’s switch to glass for wireless charging with the iPhone 8, most iPhone models used aluminum backs. These required a bit of finesse to handle the cellular and Wi-Fi antennas, which had to be separated, typically by plastic seams near the top and the bottom. These were seen most prominently on the iPhone 6 and 6s models before Apple moved them closer to the edges on the iPhone 7.
While the switch to a glass back was necessary to accommodate wireless charging, it also gave Apple an easier material to punch radio signals through, creating the much cleaner aesthetic that we’ve seen over the past several years.
This year’s iPhone 17 Pro reverses all that with its switch to an aluminum unibody, but since Apple isn’t about to eliminate wireless charging, the necessary coils have to be exposed through a non-metallic material — the glass panel on the back, which also acts as a window for wireless signals.
Since it’s very difficult to perfectly match the colors of anodized aluminum and glass due to the unique processes and materials involved, Apple didn’t bother trying. Instead, it opted to own the two-tone look with a close enough match to stay with the color theme while remaining different enough to stand out.
However, if a new report is accurate, this may have been an interim move that Apple wasn’t quite satisfied with. According to a Weibo post from well-known leaker “Instant Digital” (aka “Setsuna Digital”), Apple has figured out a formulation to create a Ceramic Shield glass that can more closely match the aluminum frame.
It’s not entirely clear what that process is, but it might be tied to a September rumor from “Digital Chat Station,” which said that Apple has already produced prototypes of the iPhone 18 Pro with “slightly transparent’ back glass. This could allow Apple to use another material behind the glass that might balance out the colors to better match the aluminum frame.
Last month, Instant Digital also revealed three new possible colors for the iPhone 18 Pro — coffee, purple, and burgundy — although a subsequent update clarified that Apple is merely testing all three, and will likely settle on whichever one works best. Part of that decision could also come down to matching the glass to the frame.
Both leakers have a respectable track record when it comes to Apple rumors, but it’s also too early to say for sure what Apple is up to — or whether any such plans will turn out the way the company hopes. A lot can change between now and next spring, which is typically when Apple begins finalizing its iPhone designs to gear up for mass production.
Nevertheless, if these reports turn out to be accurate, it could mark a return to the more unified and premium iPhone Pro aesthetic that many fans have missed.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
