According to a tipster active on the Chinese social platform Weibo, Apple plans to continue to use the anodized aluminum alloy body coating process first used in the iPhone 17 Pro on the iPhone 18 Pro released this fall, although this design has recently caused a lot of controversy among user groups due to durability issues.
The tipster nicknamed "Fixed Focus Digital" said that iPhone 17 Pro Paint peeling and chipping on the surface of the fuselage have become common user complaints. Users seeking after-sales support from Apple are generally told that this is an "inherent characteristic" and "normal wear and tear" of the aluminum alloy material and coating process, and therefore cannot be covered by the warranty as a quality issue. The tipster said that under this premise, Apple still plans to "continue to use the same design ideas" on the iPhone 18 Pro, which means that the anodized aluminum alloy body will not be replaced in the short term.
Prior to this, the iPhone 17 Pro had ended Apple’s use of titanium alloy frames on the Pro series for two consecutive generations and switched to an integrated anodized aluminum alloy design. This change caused concerns about surface durability in the early days of the product’s launch. Not long after it was launched, users took pictures of scratches and bump marks on the display units of some color models and posted them for discussion, and related topics quickly fermented in the community.
Previous reports showed that compared to other colors, the dark blue and cosmic orange versions are more likely to leave visible scratches on the surface of the fuselage. The prototypes displayed in retail stores have already shown obvious scratches within a few days after being put on sale. YouTube channel JerryRigEverything later added more details to this controversy through scratch resistance testing: The test showed that most anodized aluminum casings can still maintain relatively good scratch resistance when faced with daily contact objects such as keys and coins. However, in the camera module platform area, the raised edges that have not been chamfered have become obvious weaknesses and are more prone to chipping and scratches.
In addition to scratches on the fuselage, the cosmic orange color of the iPhone 17 Pro also exposed new problems one month after its release. Many users reported that the color of the aluminum alloy frame and camera platform shifted after a period of use, gradually changing from the original color to rose gold or pink. In some cases, the phone was eventually replaced by Apple's official support channel.
Despite the ongoing controversy, existing news still points to the iPhone 18 Pro continuing the same material route and making adjustments in color. According to relevant rumors, the new phone is expected to be available in four colors: dark cherry, light blue, dark gray and silver. Dark cherry is described as a calmer, wine-like deep red, which is more restrained than the highly saturated cosmic orange of the previous generation. Separately, the iPhone 18 Pro is thought to not be available in a pure black option for the second year in a row, but a dark gray version may be visually close to that requirement.
According to current supply chain news, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still expected to be released in September 2026 and debut on the same stage as Apple's first foldable iPhone. If the above-mentioned revelations about materials and coatings are ultimately confirmed, it means that Apple will continue to bet on anodized aluminum alloy solutions in the short term after weighing multiple factors such as cost, weight, heat dissipation, and texture. It may also face continued tests of how to respond to user feedback on durability experience.