New Apple iPhone 18 Pro colors could have similar durability issues.
A well-known Weibo leaker has reiterated that the Apple iPhone 18 Pro will continue to be made of an aluminum alloy, but explicitly warned that the new color options could be prone to paint chipping.
In a new Weibo post, leaker Fixed Focus Digital stated that the iPhone 18 Pro will continue to be made of an aluminum alloy and that its heat dissipation is “indeed excellent.” However, the leaker added an important warning: those unfamiliar with the iPhone 17 Pro‘s durability issues should “watch out for potential paint chipping with the new color options.”
Fixed Focus Digital previously pointed out that chipping on the surface of the iPhone 17 Pro is a common problem, and that users who contact Apple are often told they cannot make a warranty claim. The company classifies the issue as an inherent characteristic of the aluminum alloy and normal wear and tear. The leaker added at the time that despite its weaknesses, the iPhone 18 Pro would “retain the same design approach.”
The iPhone 17 Pro departed from the titanium frames Apple had used in its Pro line for the previous two years, opting instead for a unibody design made of anodized aluminum. Shortly after its launch, concerns arose regarding surface durability. Reports indicated that the Dark Blue and Cosmic Orange models appeared to scratch more easily than other colors. Users reported visible scratches on display models in stores just days after the phones went on sale.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro camera platform as a weak point
A scratch test by YouTuber JerryRigEverything brought some nuances into play: He found that most of the anodized casing withstands everyday objects like keys and coins well, but identified the camera platform as a clear weak point where the raised, non-beveled edges easily chip and scratch.
The following month, another issue arose when several owners of a Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro reported a color shift. The aluminum frame and camera platform were drifting towards a rose gold or pink hue, leading to device replacements by Apple Support in some cases.
Rumors suggest the Pro models will be available in four colors: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver. Dark Cherry is expected to be the new main color—a deep, wine-red that is significantly more subtle than last year’s Cosmic Orange. For the second year in a row, there will likely be no black model. However, the rumored gray version comes very close.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to be unveiled in September 2026, along with the first foldable Apple iPhone Ultra. Battery capacities were leaked earlier this month.
