Apple iPhone 18 Pro Design Is Identical In Size To iPhone 17 Pro, Case-Maker Says

iPhone 17 Pro

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It’s only a matter of weeks until the next iPhones go on sale (here’s the date I believe the next keynote will be announced, and read this for a full run-down of everything that will happen between now and release date). But two case manufacturers are already selling what they claim will work for the new iPhone 18 Pro. Can this be right?

iPhone 18 Pro: Will Old Cases Fit?

Mark Gurman at Bloomberg has posted on X about a case that Otterbox has made and which Best Buy is already selling.

“Otterbox seems to think the iPhone 18 Pro will be able to fit inside of iPhone 17 Pro cases and vice versa. Also, Best Buy is already putting these on shelves. A little early,” Gurman said.

I’d agree with that. While it’s true that the designs of the new phones are set in stone, or aluminum at least, by now, there are still questions to be answered.

Several reports have suggested that the battery in the iPhone 18 Pro could be bigger, with a consequent thickening of the phone body. In which case, last year’s case may not fit.

iPhone 18 Pro Hidden Expenses

“One of the hidden expenses in upgrading to a new iPhone can often be the need to replace your case when the dimensions differ,” 9to5Mac said.

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This is true, but I honestly don’t think it’s ever an issue. If you’re splashing out $1,000 or more on a new cellphone, do you really want to use the now-slightly-worn case from a year ago? It seems like a false economy to me.

Another manufacturer believes the 17 Pro and 18 Pro will be the same size, with Matt Ronge from Astropad saying, “Confirmed by our suppliers too,” in a response to Gurman on X.

It’s possible, but as someone who has tested iPhones since 2007, I can tell you that the slightest shift in a volume rocker or other button can make a case unusable — Apple’s products are designed with critical tolerances.

iPhone 18 Pro: What It Means For Design

If Otterbox is right, and it may be, then the prospect of a larger battery is less likely, which is a shame. But the jury is still out. As Ben Lovejoy at 9to5Mac went on, “There have been occasions on which accessory makers have simply taken a chance based on rumors — and sometimes been wrong. Personally, I wouldn’t be placing any case orders for a new iPhone before their launch.”

I’d agree with that.

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