The iPhone 18 Pro will reportedly retain the same anodized aluminum finish introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro, despite some users’ concerns about its durability.
According to the Weibo leaker known as “Fixed Focus Digital,” surface chipping on the iPhone 17 Pro has become a common complaint, and users who have requested a remedy from Apple have been told they cannot claim it, with the company classifying the issue as an inherent characteristic of the aluminum alloy material and normal wear and tear. Importantly, they added that the iPhone 18 Pro “will continue to use this same design approach” despite its weaknesses.
The iPhone 17 Pro moved away from the titanium frames Apple used in its Pro line over the previous two years, adopting an anodized aluminum unibody design. Surface durability issues emerged almost immediately after launch.
Reports suggest that the Dark Blue and Cosmic Orange models appear to scratch more easily than other finishes, with users on the Woozad forum describing visible marks on in-store displays within days of availability. A scratch test by YouTuber JerryRigEverything added some nuance, finding that most of the anodized shell holds up well to everyday objects like keys and coins, but identifying the camera tray as an obvious weak spot where the raised, unchamfered edges chip and scratch easily.
A separate issue emerged the following month, when a number of Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro owners reported a color change, with the aluminum frame and camera tray drifting to a rose gold or pink hue and, in some cases, prompting replacement of the device by Apple Support.
Rumors point to four color options for the iPhone 18 Pro models: dark cherry, light blue, dark gray, and silver. Black cherry is expected to serve as the new signature color, described as a deep, wine-like red that’s considerably more muted than last year’s cosmic orange. The iPhone 18 Pro is not expected to feature a black option for the second year in a row, but the gray option is rumored to come close.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to be announced in September 2026, alongside the first foldable iPhone.