The iPhone 18 Pro is already generating discussion well before its expected unveiling in fall 2026. The central question is: Will the Dynamic Island remain or disappear? After conflicting rumors last year, evidence is now mounting that Apple is planning changes, but not a radical overhaul. According to current information, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with a smaller Dynamic Island – but will not abandon it entirely.
Rumors surrounding new iPhone generations usually surface long before the official presentation. With the iPhone 18 Pro, the situation was initially unclear. In early 2025, reports circulated that Apple might introduce a punch-hole camera and integrate Face ID entirely under the display – without Dynamic Island.
A different picture is now emerging. Several sources are reporting that Apple is not removing the Dynamic Island, but merely reducing its size. This would represent an evolutionary step for the company, rather than a complete redesign of the front panel.
Several sources mention a smaller Dynamic Island
According to a Bloomberg report, both the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with a smaller Dynamic Island display. This assessment does not come solely from Bloomberg.
Several well-known leakers on Weibo and other social media platforms have also reported that Apple is working on a downsizing. According to current information, a complete abandonment of the Dynamic Island is not expected.
Experience shows that rumors are considered particularly reliable when, in the months leading up to the launch of a new iPhone, several independent sources refer to the same detail. This exact pattern is currently evident with the iPhone 18 Pro.
Looking back: The iPhone 17 Pro and the unchanged Dynamic Island
Reports surfaced last year suggesting the iPhone 17 Pro would have a smaller Dynamic Island display. Ultimately, however, nothing changed – the size remained the same.
The difference to the current situation lies in the number and consistency of the sources. With the iPhone 18 Pro, several well-known insiders are reporting on the same feature in close succession. This increases the likelihood that Apple is indeed planning an adjustment.
Face ID under the display – what's really planned
A key element of the rumors concerns Face ID technology. At the beginning of 2025, it was said that Apple could introduce it in the iPhone 18 Pro:
- Move Face ID completely below the display
- completely remove the Dynamic Island
- use a classic pinhole camera
These assumptions are now considered unlikely. Either Apple internally reviewed this solution and later rejected it, or the original reports were based on speculation. It's also possible that there was confusion about which components actually disappear under the display and which remain visible.
Current information suggests that Apple is planning the following technical changes for a smaller Dynamic Island:
- The Face ID dot projector is to be placed below the display.
- Apple could use a new technology to miniaturize the camera.
- This could result in a smaller front camera.
Despite these adjustments, the front camera, infrared camera and Face ID dot projector will still be housed in the area of the Dynamic Island – and not disappear completely invisibly under the display.
This means that it is not a complete under-display solution, but rather an intermediate step.
Long-term goal: An iPhone without visible cutouts
Apple apparently continues to pursue the long-term goal of developing an iPhone made from a single sheet of glass – without a notch, without Dynamic Island and without visible cutouts in the display.
However, this concept is unlikely to be implemented with the iPhone 18 Pro. Instead, Apple seems to be taking a step-by-step approach.
A completely cutout-free design could potentially appear on the 20th-anniversary iPhone, expected in 2027. The iPhone 18 Pro models, slated for release in fall 2026, are not expected to achieve this.
What this means for the iPhone 18 Pro
For the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max, everything points to a moderate design adjustment:
- Dynamic Island will remain.
- The size should be reduced.
- Individual Face ID components could move under the display.
- The front camera could become smaller through miniaturization.
A radical switch to pinhole cameras and completely invisible sensors is not expected at present.
iPhone 18 Pro: Continuity in front design
The iPhone 18 Pro will most likely not receive a completely new front design. Instead of a radical overhaul, a gradual evolution seems likely.
A smaller Dynamic Island is currently considered the most realistic scenario. Earlier speculation about a fully sub-display solution appears to have either been dismissed or overinterpreted.
Apple remains true to its typical development approach: incremental technical innovation rather than abrupt design changes. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to continue this path. (Image: Shutterstock / Alex Malt)
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