Next-Generation iPhone Designs Detailed by Leaker
Reliable leaker Digital Chat Station (DCS) has shared key details concerning the design and features of two upcoming iPhone models. These changes highlight Apple’s strategy of incremental refinement for its flagship devices while strategically modernizing its more budget-conscious offerings. The revealed details focus on the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 17e, providing a glimpse into the company’s product roadmap for the next few years across the globe.
iPhone 18 Pro: Maintaining Aesthetics, Enhancing Camera Power
The flagship iPhone 18 Pro is expected to keep the overall aesthetic introduced by its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro. This focus on design continuity is consistent with Apple’s typical strategy of retaining a core look for multiple generations before a major overhaul.
Retained Camera Plateau Design
The iPhone 18 Pro is anticipated to maintain the same basic rear camera design. This means the full-width camera “plateau” the rectangular glass strip housing the three cameras will remain largely identical to the one on the iPhone 17 Pro model. However, DCS notes that the lower transparent glass section on the back may feature a slightly different finish. This change would offer a refreshed, yet familiar, appearance to differentiate it from the previous generation. New color options are also expected to accompany this release. Â
Variable Aperture Camera Lens
Internally, the iPhone 18 Pro is set for a major functional upgrade: the addition of a variable aperture main camera lens. This is a first for iPhones. This feature allows users to control the depth of field in their photos and videos more precisely. This provides greater creative control for both photography and filmmaking. The technology would allow users to switch between shallow focus to isolate a subject and deep focus to keep an entire scene sharp.
iPhone 17e: Dynamic Island Adoption, 60Hz Display
Attention is also turning to the more affordable segment of the lineup, specifically the iPhone 17e, which is expected to launch in early 2026. This model will finally receive a much-anticipated design update.
The iPhone 17e will move away from the traditional screen notch design. It will instead adopt the Dynamic Island feature. This brings the more budget friendly model in line with the modern aesthetic of the rest of Apple’s lineup. This modernization will provide a more cohesive look across all devices.
However, DCS adds that despite adopting the Dynamic Island, the iPhone 17e display will only support a 60Hz refresh rate. This strategic decision ensures that the higher-end ProMotion technology remains exclusive to the Pro models for the time being. This move follows the recent introduction of ProMotion to the base model iPhone 17. It suggests that it will take time for the feature to trickle down to the budget ‘e’ variant.
 Source: 9to5mac
