Apple Could Reverse Controversial Clear Case Design With iPhone 18 Pro
Apple Might Change Back to a Clearer Case Design for iPhone 18 Pro
New pictures of clear cases made by other companies for the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max suggest that Apple might go back to an older, more familiar MagSafe ring design. This would mean moving away from the white, non-transparent panel that caused a lot of discussion when it was introduced on last year's iPhone 17 Pro cases.
What These New Cases Show
These images have been shared widely on Chinese social media and were first noticed by MyDrivers. Many people criticized the iPhone 17 Pro clear case because it replaced the usual round MagSafe magnet design with a large, white, solid rectangle. This rectangle covered most of the back of the case. However, the new cases seen in these pictures go back to a more open, horseshoe or ring-shaped MagSafe design. This design keeps most of the case truly transparent, allowing the phone's original color to show through.
If these designs accurately show what Apple plans for its own official cases, it would be a significant change from a design that many customers felt made Apple's "clear" case not very clear at all. It's common for companies that make phone accessories to create cases before Apple officially announces new phones. They do this by getting information and expected details from the parts suppliers.
iPhone 17 Pro Clear CaseThe Problem with the iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case
The updated design of the iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case was very divisive when it was first launched. On the iPhone 17 Pro, the Apple logo moved to a lower spot on the back of the phone. This was so it could be centered within a new rectangular glass area, just below the camera bump. As reported before the phone's release, the older round MagSafe design would have covered this new Apple logo position. Because of this, Apple chose to replace the circular magnet ring entirely with a large, white, rounded rectangle that had a centered Apple logo. This design covered most of the bottom three-quarters of the case. Many discussions in online forums and product reviews described this white panel as a "deal breaker" for some buyers who specifically wanted to showcase their phone's color.
A New Approach for iPhone 18 Pro Cases
The open horseshoe design suggested by the new iPhone 18 Pro cases offers a different solution, similar to some other third-party cases. This design has a gap in the ring at the bottom, which allows the Apple logo to remain visible through the case without needing that large, solid white panel. The third-party cases shown in these pictures clearly aim to copy Apple's official accessories. Given the strong negative feedback about Apple's clear cases last year, it wouldn't be surprising if the company decides to switch to this new design.
Other Design Details
Besides the MagSafe design, these replica cases also show other design features that match current rumors about the new iPhone models. The case for the standard iPhone 18 has a cutout that suggests a vertical dual-camera setup. This is consistent with reports that the basic iPhone model will have a similar back design to the previous version. Both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max cases feature large, horizontal camera cutouts. These match the camera design that was first seen on the iPhone 17 Pro models.
When to Expect the New iPhones
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to be announced this fall, likely at the same time as the first foldable iPhone. The standard iPhone 18 is probably set to follow in the spring, along with the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2.
This article, "Apple Could Reverse Controversial Clear Case Design With iPhone 18 Pro" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
from MacRumors
-via DynaSage
