iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 17e Designs Revealed by Reliable Leaker

Reliable Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station (DCS) has shared new details about Apple’s upcoming iPhone designs. Following his earlier report on a variable aperture camera system for the iPhone 18 Pro, DCS now says Apple will retain the same overall rear design as this year’s iPhone 17 Pro.

iPhone 18 Pro to Retain the Camera Plateau Design

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to keep the full-width camera plateau, a design Apple introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro lineup. This means the rectangular glass strip housing the three cameras will remain, offering visual continuity across two generations. However, DCS adds that the lower transparent glass section may feature a slightly different finish, giving the phone a refreshed but familiar appearance. As usual, Apple will introduce new color options to mark the update.

This continuation of the design shows Apple’s focus on consistency. The company often sticks to a design for multiple years, gradually refining it rather than making drastic changes annually.

iPhone 17e to Adopt Dynamic Island but Stick With 60Hz Display

Alongside the flagship model, DCS also revealed early details about the iPhone 17e, expected to launch in early 2026. This more affordable model will finally move away from the traditional notch and adopt the Dynamic Island, bringing it in line with the rest of Apple’s lineup.

However, the display will still be limited to 60Hz, meaning the smooth ProMotion technology seen in higher-end iPhones will remain exclusive to the Pro models for now. This isn’t surprising, as Apple only recently brought ProMotion to its base iPhones, and the feature typically takes time to trickle down to budget variants.

Variable Aperture Lens Still Expected on iPhone 18 Pro

Earlier today, 9to5Mac reported that DCS and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo both expect the iPhone 18 Pro to feature a variable aperture main camera lens, a first for iPhones. This feature would let users control the depth of field in photos more precisely, switching between shallow and deep focus depending on the scene.

The technology could also benefit filmmakers by reducing the need for neutral density filters when shooting in bright environments. While it’s unclear whether both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will get this feature, DCS’s track record with camera-related leaks makes the claim notable.

Incremental But Strategic Design Evolution

Apple’s approach for 2026 seems clear: small, calculated updates that focus on refinement rather than reinvention. The iPhone 18 Pro keeps its recognizable plateau camera layout but evolves internally with potential camera upgrades, while the iPhone 17e finally modernizes its display design.

The information about both models comes from Digital Chat Station, a reliable leaker with a strong history of accurate Apple-related reports, and was first shared on Weibo and later covered by 9to5Mac and PhoneArena.