iPhone 18 Pro Design Rumors Point to Transparent Back

Apple hasn’t even unveiled the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max yet, but the rumor mill is already buzzing about their successors. According to early reports, the iPhone 18 Pro could feature a design that generally sticks to the familiar, yet includes a surprising twist: a partially transparent back.

What The Leaks Are Saying

As per the claims of Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station, the successors to the iPhone 17 Pro models won’t stray far from the established design. Expect a repeat of the plateau-style camera island with its three lenses in a triangle on the upcoming models. The screen sizes are also said to remain unchanged, sticking to the 6.3-inch display for the Pro and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max, continuing a configuration that’s been in place since the iPhone 16 series.

The more provocative claim is talk of a slightly transparent section on the back glass. The information, shared across Chinese social media by the leaker, hints at a “little transparent design.” Whether this involves just a hint of translucency to expose MagSafe charging coils or a functional modification aimed at better heat dissipation is still ambiguous.

Cooling And Performance Upgrades

Outside of visual tweaks, the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to carry a stainless steel vapor chamber cooling system. This would seem to build on Apple’s current approach in the iPhone 17 Pro, where the chamber is integrated into the aluminum structure. The use of stainless steel could enhance heat management, potentially offering better performance during intensive activities like gaming.

Looking into the internal specs, Taiwan’s Commercial Times reports that the iPhone 18 Pro may be powered by an A20 Pro chip, crafted using TSMC’s 2nm process, alongside Apple’s own C2 modem replacing Qualcomm’s. This shift fits into Apple’s broader roadmap of boosting yearly performance gains and edging closer to fully in-house designs for chips and modems.

How Likely Is A Transparent iPhone?

While the notion of a transparent back is intriguing, it’s met with some skepticism. Other brands, such as Nothing, have embraced transparent designs, yet Apple has so far stayed clear of such aesthetics. Some analysts caution that the term “transparent” might be better understood as a mistranslation or a stand-in for another refinement, such as an advancement in thermal glass technology. Judging by Apple’s design philosophy, the likelihood of seeing a transparent iPhone seems pretty low.

It’s crucial to remember that the iPhone 18 Pro is likely still in the experimental phase. Apple often toys with numerous prototypes—sometimes up to five different back designs—before settling on what reaches consumers. Even if the company is testing translucent glass, there’s no certainty it will be part of the final release.

What do you think about the idea of a transparent iPhone? Share your thoughts below.