TL; DR
- The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to feature a Dynamic Island that is around 35% smaller than the current generation.
- Apple is reducing the cutout size by apparently moving some (not all) Face ID components under the display while keeping the feature functional.
- The new design is likely to debut with the iPhone 18 series in September 2026.
Reliable tipster Ice Universe has shared new details about the front design of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the big change this time is the Dynamic Island getting noticeably smaller. Based on the leak, the width is expected to drop from around 20.76 mm on the current Pro models to about 13.49 mm, which is roughly a 35% reduction.
This change is not coming from a complete redesign of the Face ID modules, but from Apple shifting some Face ID components under the display. Parts like the flood illuminator are said to move beneath the panel, which allows Apple to reduce the visible cutout while still keeping the Dynamic Island functionality intact. So you still get the same alerts, animations, and system interactions, just in a smaller area.
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Visually, this should make the display look cleaner. The bezels are expected to stay similar to the iPhone 17 series, so the improvement in screen feel mostly comes from the reduced cutout. There are also early indications that this smaller Dynamic Island could extend beyond the Pro models to the standard iPhone 18 lineup, but nothing concrete.
A fully under-display Face ID system is still a few generations away, so this looks like Apple’s next step in gradually minimizing the front hardware. The iPhone 18 series is expected to launch in September 2026, and more details should come closer to release as prototypes evolve.
ALSO READ: Apple Confirms WWDC 2026 Dates: June 8-12, Keynote on June 8
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