Despite being months away from its launch, Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra, has already become the focus of attention in the tech world. Ironically, while the iPhone Ultra is attracting all the attention, the iPhone 18 Pro risks becoming a "secondary character" even before its official release.

The latest leaked images of the iPhone 18 Pro model suggest that Apple isn't bringing too many changes to the traditional Pro line this year.
For iOS users who have been waiting for a foldable iPhone for years, the iPhone Ultra is clearly the most anticipated product. Conversely, if you expect Apple to create a drastic overhaul for the iPhone 18 Pro, you will probably be disappointed.
The design is so familiar it's hard to tell the difference.
Recently, reliable leak source Sonny Dickson shared a series of images of iPhone 18 Pro models in four colors that are believed to be available when the product launches: Dark Gray, Silver, Dark Cherry, and Light Blue.
Among these, Dark Cherry is the most outstanding version. The deep red tone with a hint of purple creates a luxurious and distinctive feel, and is even predicted to become a "hot" color similar to the Cosmic Orange version on the iPhone 17 Pro.

However, aside from the new color, it's difficult to find any other significant differences. Overall, the iPhone 18 Pro is almost identical to the iPhone 17 Pro.
Without placing the two devices side-by-side, many people might not be able to tell which is the newer generation. This is quite unusual for a product that has been positioned as Apple's top-of-the-line smartphone for many years.
Although the overall design remains unchanged, Apple is still expected to make some minor adjustments to the size.
According to leaked information, the iPhone 18 Pro may be slightly taller, wider, and thicker than its predecessor. The increased thickness is likely intended to make room for a larger battery, thereby improving battery life, a factor always highly valued by users.
The rear camera module is also said to be about 3% thicker, while each individual sensor will take up more space and protrude more than before.

However, these changes are considered quite minor. In fact, many sources suggest that cases designed for the iPhone 17 Pro can still be used on the iPhone 18 Pro without too much trouble.
This suggests that Apple is opting for a refinement strategy rather than a complete redesign.
Another notable upgrade is that the iPhone 18 Pro could be the first iPhone model in four years to feature a smaller Dynamic Island form factor.
Since its introduction on the iPhone 14 Pro series, Dynamic Island has become a familiar identifying feature of modern iPhones. Shrinking this area helps increase the actual display area and gives the feeling of a larger screen.

However, many previous rumors suggested that Apple would adopt a more unified and seamless back design for the next generation. Now, the latest information indicates that this plan may not materialize.
In other words, users can hardly expect a revolutionary change in appearance on the iPhone 18 Pro.
Could the iPhone Ultra be the cause?
One of the reasons the iPhone 18 Pro is considered less appealing may stem from the very appearance of the iPhone Ultra.
According to numerous industry reports, Apple is dedicating a significant portion of its research and development resources to its first foldable iPhone. This is seen as a strategic product aimed at competing with high-end foldable devices from Samsung, Honor, Huawei, and many other Android manufacturers.

If the iPhone Ultra is indeed priced at around $2,000, Apple certainly wants to make it the most outstanding device in its ecosystem. To achieve that, the company needs to create a sufficiently significant difference between the Ultra and the traditional Pro line.
In that context, the fact that the iPhone 18 Pro only received moderate upgrades could be a strategic decision. Apple wants to reserve the most groundbreaking innovations for its higher-end product line, thereby encouraging users to upgrade to the more expensive Ultra model.
Although many believe the iPhone 18 Pro is being sidelined, this approach is actually not unfamiliar to Apple.
Unlike many Android manufacturers who typically change their designs annually, Apple is known for its long design cycles. The company usually maintains a design language for several generations before making major changes.
In reality, Apple only switched to a horizontal camera module in the previous generation. Therefore, expecting the company to create another complete overhaul next year is probably unrealistic.
However, the arrival of the iPhone Ultra is inadvertently making the iPhone 18 Pro less prominent than ever. If current leaks are accurate, the biggest highlight of the iPhone 18 Pro may simply be the new Dark Cherry color along with some minor upgrades to the battery, camera, and screen.
Meanwhile, market attention will likely be focused on Apple's first foldable iPhone, a product expected to usher in a completely new chapter for the iPhone line after nearly two decades. With the iPhone Ultra, Apple could create the next revolution. As for the iPhone 18 Pro, 2026 seems likely to be more of a refinement rather than a true leap forward.
(According to PhoneArena and MacRumors)

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/iphone-18-pro-lo-anh-chan-thuc-khien-fan-apple-bat-ngo-2520916.html






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