[DigitalToday intern reporter Seung-a Yoo] The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max may feature three design changes, including a revised rear finish, a smaller dynamic island and new colour options.

On Aug. 19 local time, IT outlet 9to5Mac reported that Apple is likely to focus on refining external fit and finish in the new Pro lineup expected to be unveiled next month.

The most noticeable change is how the back is coloured. The two-tone approach used on the iPhone 17 Pro drew mixed reactions, and the iPhone 18 Pro is widely being discussed as moving toward matching the colours of the rear glass and aluminium. Weibo leaker Instant Digital said many users feel the two-tone look is not attractive, adding that Apple will move in a different direction with the iPhone 18 Pro.

Apple changed its colour strategy in the previous model and introduced stronger colours even for Pro models, and it is likely to keep that trend this time. At least three colours have been mentioned so far: dark cherry, silver and light blue. Views were mixed on whether space grey or black tones will return, but there is also the possibility of adding a fourth colour.

Dark cherry, in particular, is emerging as the signature colour for this lineup. It was described as having a mixed feel of burgundy, coffee and deep purple, and was mentioned as an option Apple may push at the forefront of marketing. With the previous model's cosmic orange drawing a strong response, there was also speculation that a colour strategy moving away from a focus on white, black and grey could continue.

On the front, shrinking the dynamic island is cited as the key change. Apple first introduced the dynamic island on the iPhone 14 Pro and has kept the same shape for 4 years. This time, a new design applied to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could reduce its size by about 35 percent, it said.

The shrink is being linked to moving some Face ID components under the display. Not all parts would go under the screen, suggesting it is not a shift to a full hole-punch design. That would mean Apple is opting to preserve the existing user experience while gradually adjusting how the display area is allocated, rather than immediately making major changes to the front camera setup.

In terms of market reaction, attention is on the point that the two-tone finish was more contentious than the camera bump spanning across the entire rear on the previous model. There was little sense of it being a major issue that the camera bump grew, but the two-tone back drew more polarised reactions. That makes it more likely that the rear finish will be the first area Apple revises in this generation.

These changes put more weight on readjusting the look and overall finish of the Pro lineup than on adding new features. The idea is to streamline the rear design by unifying colours, change the front impression by shrinking the dynamic island and differentiate with new colours such as dark cherry. With an unveiling expected next month, attention will be on whether all three changes appear in the actual product.