iPhone 18 Pro Leak: Transparent Twist and Cooling Upgrade

The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are still days away from their official launch on September 19, yet the rumor mill has already jumped ahead a generation.

Fresh leaks are shedding light on what we might see from Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro series, and the early details are stirring both excitement and debate.

According to the well-known Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple doesn’t appear to be preparing a radical overhaul for the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max. Instead, these models are expected to refine the visual identity introduced with the iPhone 17 lineup. The familiar large camera island with its trio of lenses will reportedly remain intact, ensuring continuity for users who have grown accustomed to Apple’s current photography-focused design language.

What’s raising eyebrows, however, is the claim that Apple could experiment with a partially transparent design on the lower back of the device. If true, it would be a surprising aesthetic shift, evoking nostalgic memories of clear gadgets from the 80s and 90s, while also echoing the modern stylings of companies like Nothing. Though some argue Nothing doesn’t own transparency as a concept, its branding has leaned heavily into that theme, making Apple’s rumored move both intriguing and contentious.

Beyond appearances, Apple is said to be incorporating a stainless steel vapor chamber for improved thermal management, a feature that could help sustain performance during demanding tasks like gaming and video recording. Screen sizes, by contrast, are expected to stay the same as the 17 Pro models, reinforcing Apple’s tendency toward incremental updates.

Although the leak doesn’t mention it outright, history suggests the iPhone 18 Pro lineup will almost certainly debut with a new chip generation, keeping Apple’s yearly performance upgrade tradition alive. Those hoping Apple might already be plotting another big design departure may need to temper expectations – such shifts usually arrive every few years, not every cycle.

For now, all eyes are on the iPhone 17’s imminent release. Yet, as this new leak proves, anticipation for what comes after never rests in the fast-moving world of smartphones.