The iPhone 18 Pro is still over a year away, but there are already hints of the technical changes Apple is planning. One innovation in particular is at the center of this: Face ID will work under the display for the first time. At the same time, the Dynamic Island, which has been standard since the iPhone 14 Pro, will be reduced in size. While nothing has been officially confirmed yet, several sources are providing clues as to what the iPhone 18 Pro might look like.
Apple has been working on a bezel-less iPhone for years. Until now, Face ID has always been associated with visible sensors and notches in the display. With the iPhone 18 Pro, this is set to change – at least in small steps. Display analyst Ross Young expects that Apple will place Face ID elements under the display for the first time with the 2026 generation. However, they won't disappear completely. The Dynamic Island will remain, but according to several sources, will be smaller. This brings the iPhone 18 Pro one step closer to the goal of a true all-screen device.
Face ID under the display – but not yet completely invisible
Ross Young of Counterpoint Research announced on X (formerly Twitter) that some iPhone models scheduled for release in 2026 will feature Face ID under the display. Although he didn't name specific models, it's likely that these will be the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. However, Young emphasized that even with this innovation, visible Face ID elements will still be present. The technology isn't yet advanced enough to allow all components to disappear under the display. Therefore, he doesn't anticipate a completely seamless display design. Instead, the current Dynamic Island will be smaller but not completely eliminated.
Different assessments of the Dynamic Island
Not all sources agree on how the Dynamic Island will evolve on the iPhone 18 Pro. According to an earlier report by Wayne Ma, a journalist at "The Information," the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could simply feature a small notch for the front camera in the upper left corner. This would mean Apple could do without the Dynamic Island. Ross Young considers this unlikely. In his estimation, the Dynamic Island will remain – just smaller than in previous models since the iPhone 14 Pro. Bloomberg also claims that Apple plans to reduce the size of the Dynamic Island on at least some 2026 iPhone models. This statement supports Young's prediction. It remains unclear whether the front camera will actually move to the upper left corner in the future or remain centered. There is no reliable information on this either. Young himself is cautious on this point, saying that this decision has probably not yet been finalized.
Complete all-screen design only from 2028
According to Young, Apple's long-term plan is to relocate all Face ID components beneath the display. However, this won't happen until 2028 at the earliest. For the 2026 models – including the iPhone 18 Pro – he expects an intermediate stage: partially beneath the display, partially still visible. This would make the iPhone 18 Pro a further step toward edge-to-edge design, but not yet the final version.
iPhone 18 Pro as an intermediate step towards all-screen design
The iPhone 18 Pro could launch in 2026 with a smaller Dynamic Island and Face ID under the display. However, it probably won't be completely without notches. According to the analyst, the technology for a completely seamless display won't be ready until 2028. While the rumors aren't yet conclusive, leading analysts and insiders agree that Apple is opening a new chapter with the iPhone 18 Pro—albeit in small, controlled steps. (Image: Shutterstock / Thanes.Op)
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