Apple is set to launch the iPhone 18 Pro with the anodized aluminum chassis that debuted on the iPhone 17 Pro, despite a wave of durability complaints. A Weibo source known as Fixed Focus Digital says users have reported surface chipping and color shift, and Apple has classified those issues as normal wear. Apple hopes the design will satisfy premium buyers.

Four finishes are rumored for the upcoming lineup: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray and Silver. Dark Cherry is pitched as the signature hue, a muted wine‑red that replaces last year’s bright Cosmic Orange. Notably, Apple will skip a black option for the second year in a row, leaving the gray variant as the closest substitute to appeal to color‑conscious buyers.

Apple plans to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in September 2026, alongside its first foldable iPhone. By persisting with aluminum, the company bets that the material’s premium feel outweighs early wear concerns, while the new color palette aims to refresh the Pro aesthetic. Consumers will have to weigh aesthetic appeal against the documented fragility.