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iPhone 18 Pro Enters Test Production Stage With Minimal Material Changes, Tipster Claims

iPhone 18 Pro Enters Test Production Stage With Minimal Material Changes, Tipster Claims

Apple may not introduce major design or material changes to the iPhone 18 Pro, at least in terms of its overall build.

Written by Shaurya Tomer, Edited by Ketan Pratap | Updated: 24 February 2026 09:41 IST

iPhone 18 Pro Enters Test Production Stage With Minimal Material Changes, Tipster Claims

iPhone 17 Pro Max is sold in Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue and Silver colourways

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Highlights

Apple is tipped to be conducting limited-scale manufacturing runs
The design is said to remain largely unchanged
A deep red colour option for iPhone 18 Pro is reportedly in testing

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be unveiled at Apple's September event, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the long-rumoured iPhone Fold models. According to a tipster, the purported handset has entered the early stages of test production. Apple is said to have begun limited-scale manufacturing runs of the iPhone 18 Pro as part of its engineering validation and production readiness process, months ahead of its official unveiling.

iPhone 18 Pro Enters Production

In a Weibo post (via 9to5Mac), tipster Fixed Focus Digital (translated from Chinese) claimed that the iPhone 18 series, including the iPhone 18 Pro, has entered production testing. Citing the latest information, the tipster claimed that the materials used in the purported handsets have not changed significantly and that Apple is broadly sticking to the existing specification scheme.

If accurate, this suggests that Apple may not introduce major design or material changes to the iPhone 18 Pro, at least in terms of its overall build. Instead, the Cupertino-based tech giant could be focusing on internal refinements and performance improvements while maintaining a familiar cosmetic design language.

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Test production, notably, is a standard step in Apple's hardware development cycle. During this phase, manufacturing partners produce a limited number of units to evaluate assembly processes, component fit, yield rates, and overall production efficiency.

9to5Mac reported that Apple is closely working with its primary suppliers to fine-tune the manufacturing process for the iPhone 18 Pro, to identify potential bottlenecks prior to its mass production, which is speculated to begin later in the year.

Recently, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman mentioned that Apple is testing a deep red colour option for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. It is said to be the new flagship colour under consideration for this year's Pro lineup.

The tech giant is speculated to be building on the momentum raised by the popularity of the Cosmic Orange colourway of the iPhone 17 Pro models. As per the journalist, the orange colourway has reportedly driven demand in key markets such as China, where some consumers have compared it to luxury brand Hermes' orange hue.

iPhone 17 Pro Max

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
The boldest redesign since the iPhone X
Bright and stunning display
A19 Pro under the hood guarantees excellent performance
Massive camera upgrade
Video quality gets a much-needed bump
Centre Stage camera at the front changes selfie game on iPhones forever
Improved charging speed

Bad
Aluminium body picks up scratches
Expensive
Heavier than the 16 Pro Max

Read detailed Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max review

Display 6.90-inch

Processor Apple A19 Pro

Front Camera 18-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 48-megapixel + 48-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB

OS iOS 26

Resolution 1320x2868 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

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Further reading: iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, apple event

Shaurya Tomer

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Shaurya Tomer is a Sub Editor at Gadgets 360 with 2 years of experience across a diverse spectrum of topics. With a particular focus on smartphones, gadgets and the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), he often likes to explore the industry's intricacies and innovations – whether dissecting the latest smartphone release or exploring the ethical implications of AI advancements. In his free time, he often embarks on impromptu road trips to unwind, recharge, and ...More