Apple Says iPhone 17 Pro Cases Won't Fit iPhone 18 Pro as Camera Bump Grows 0.1mm

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Sep 18

Apple told Daring Fireball that iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max cases are officially incompatible with the iPhone 18 Pro line.
A 0.1mm increase in the iPhone 18 Pro camera plateau thickness — 11.5mm versus 11.4mm on the iPhone 17 Pro — is the stated reason.
John Gruber's hands-on testing found the mismatch appears negligible in practice: Apple-branded cases from both generations fit both phone generations.
Most third-party cases should also work, though some tighter-fitting designs may be exceptions despite Apple's formal compatibility stance.

Sources

Left50%

Right50%

Could using your old iPhone 17 Pro case on the new iPhone 18 secretly damage its upgraded camera system?

Why is Apple using a microscopic 0.1mm change to force you into buying a brand new iPhone 18 Pro case?

What is the real environmental cost behind Apple making millions of perfectly good phone cases officially obsolete?