iPhone 18 Pro: Front camera with a smaller display hole? Apfelpatient

Apple is already working on the next iPhone generation, and early leaks paint a clear picture of what the iPhone 18 Pro will bring. It's not just about minor design changes, but about concrete technological improvements intended to enhance the user experience. The focus is particularly on the front camera, the Dynamic Island, and the camera system.

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to feature a smaller hole for the front camera. Apple is currently testing a new manufacturing technique for this, one already used in the Android world. Improvements are also planned for the camera, display, and MagSafe system. Here's an overview of everything that's known so far.

HIAA technology: Smaller hole for the front camera

Apple is currently testing HIAA (Hole-in-Active-Area) technology for the front camera of the iPhone 18 Pro. This is a display technology that allows an extremely small hole to be drilled directly into the active OLED display area. Developed by Samsung and other display manufacturers, this technology is designed to reduce the amount of screen space occupied by the camera opening.

The camera on the current model is still located within the Dynamic Island. With HIAA technology, the camera cutout could become significantly smaller in the future. It's unclear whether Apple will completely move the camera out of the Dynamic Island or simply reduce the size of the cutout. The leaker only mentions that "the screen shape will change," leaving room for interpretation.

Dynamic Island is to be reduced in size

Previous reports already suggested that Apple is planning a smaller Dynamic Island for the iPhone 18 Pro. More recent information seems to confirm this. The more compact HIAA camera could allow for a significantly smaller area without sacrificing functionality. The current leak makes no mention of Face ID under the display, as previously speculated.

Even though the functionality of the Dynamic Island will probably not change, the smaller form should offer more usable display area and make the screen look more modern.

Further technical details and design changes

Digital Chat Station also reiterates other previously known information about the iPhone 18 Pro:

The main camera will be equipped with a variable aperture. This technology automatically adjusts to different lighting conditions and enables better photos in difficult lighting situations.
The camera platform on the back remains the same as on the iPhone 17 Pro. Therefore, a radical design change is not expected.
The Ceramic Shield on the back is expected to have a transparent design in the MagSafe area. This could affect wireless charging and the overall aesthetics.

Release schedule and new strategy

Apple is apparently planning a new launch strategy for the iPhone 18 series. The iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, a new iPhone Air, and a foldable iPhone are expected to be released in September 2026. The regular iPhone 18 and the more affordable iPhone 18e, however, might not follow until spring 2027.

This split would mark Apple's first introduction of a two-part release cycle. Premium models and specialized devices would appear earlier, while standard models would follow later. This would allow Apple to target market segments more effectively and optimize production cycles.

The iPhone 18 Pro is taking shape

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to bring some visible changes – especially to the front camera. With HIAA technology, Apple is moving closer to a more discreet camera integration within the display. At the same time, the Dynamic Island will likely remain, but in a more compact form. Upgrades to the camera and design are also expected. The new split-cycle launch strategy also suggests that Apple is restructuring its iPhone strategy for the long term. There's still time until the release in fall 2026, but the groundwork for the iPhone 18 Pro is already clearly laid. (Image: Shutterstock / Ravi_Sharma1030)