Apple iPhone 18 Pro expected to be noticeably thicker with larger battery and variable‑aperture camera

Multiple leaks indicate that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be thicker and heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro series. Sources on Weibo cite a body‑thickness increase of about 2 mm, putting overall thickness in the 9.9 mm‑10.9 mm range versus 8.75 mm for the previous models. The rear camera module is also said to grow, accommodating Apple’s first variable‑aperture lens, a component reportedly 50 % more expensive and larger than the fixed‑aperture units used before.

The larger camera stack coincides with a bigger power cell. Regulatory filings and supplier leaks point to battery capacities of roughly 5,300 mAh to 5,600 mAh for the Pro Max, a jump of about 400–500 mAh over the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The added capacity is expected to raise device weight to around 240 g, making the 18 Pro Max the heaviest Apple flagship in several years.

Apple is expected to retain the aluminum alloy frame introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro rather than reverting to titanium. The devices are slated for a September 2026 launch, alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Analysts also note possible price increases of $200‑$300 for the Pro models due to higher component costs, especially the new A20 Pro chip, larger RAM, storage and the variable‑aperture camera module.