iPhone 18 Pro camera bump grows larger to fit upgraded sensors

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are poised to keep nearly the same overall dimensions as their forerunners, with one notable exception: the camera bump. Here is why the camera plateau on the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to grow even larger this year.

Leaks from last fall suggested that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max would be both thicker and heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro. But recent details clarify that the extra bulk is confined to the camera area. The rest of the device maintains the same thickness as its predecessor.

In April, YouTuber Vadim Yuryev posted a hands-on video with dummy models, revealing a substantial increase in the thickness of the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera plateau, including the lenses themselves. For comparison, the iPhone 18 Pro Max measures 13.77mm thick with its cameras, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max sits at 12.92mm. While most of this added depth comes from the larger camera sensors, the aluminum plateau itself is also thicker.

What is driving this change? A new post from Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station sheds light on the matter. According to a Google Translate version of his message, the iPhone 18 Pro series will feature a 48MP ultra-large sensor with a variable aperture. While rumors of a variable aperture for the Main camera have circulated for some time, the emphasis on sensor size is particularly telling given the device’s increased thickness.

Apple has consistently enlarged its iPhone camera lenses year over year, and that trend continues. The combination of a new, ultra-large Main sensor, variable aperture technology, and anticipated major upgrades to the Telephoto lens all point to a notably bigger camera bump and larger protruding lenses.

What are your thoughts on the iPhone 18 Pro’s expanding camera bump? Share your opinion in the comments.