The iPhone 18 Pro is shaping up to be the first Apple flagship that finally hides Face ID completely under the display, clearing the way for a near uninterrupted screen and sidelining the Dynamic Island in the process. Early reporting points to a punch hole for the selfie camera, new display tech to make under panel sensors viable, and a broader redesign that treats the current cutout as a transitional step rather than a permanent fixture. If the leaks hold, the iPhone 18 Pro could mark the biggest front facing overhaul since Face ID arrived on iPhone X.
At the same time, the rumor mill is not unanimous, with some reports suggesting the Dynamic Island may shrink or shift rather than vanish outright. I see a pattern emerging, though: Apple appears to be using advanced LTPO panels, under display infrared hardware, and a new A series chip to push biometric tech out of sight while preserving the glanceable UI tricks that made the Dynamic Island popular.
The under screen Face ID gamble
The central claim around iPhone 18 Pro is that Apple is moving Face ID beneath the glass, relying on a new generation of display that can let infrared light through without sacrificing image quality. One detailed leak describes “Pro Leak Points” that highlight an Under panel “Screen Face ID” system that removes the need for a pill shaped cutout and promises “No More Dynamic Island” on the Pro tier. That aligns with broader chatter that Apple wants a true full screen look, with only a small camera opening left visible.
Technically, that move depends on Apple’s investment in LTPO OLED, which can vary refresh rate and selectively adjust pixel behavior over sensor areas. One report says Apple is already testing LTPO OLED panels across the entire iPhone 18 family, which would give the company the fine grained control needed to hide sensors behind the “Screen” without obvious artifacts. From a user perspective, the promise is simple: you still get secure Face ID, but the black bar that has defined recent iPhones fades away.
What actually happens to Dynamic Island
Where things get messy is in the fate of the Dynamic Island itself. Some leaks argue that the feature is effectively being retired on Pro models, replaced by a punch hole and under display sensors that free up more status bar real estate. Others, however, suggest a more incremental shift, with one source describing how Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro models will move the camera cutout to the top left, with “Monday January” reporting that at 4:35 am PST, Tim Hardwick detailed how Apple would keep some interface elements while shifting most Face ID hardware under the display on the Pro line. A companion link repeats that “Monday January” timing and the same 4:35 am PST detail, again tying Tim Hardwick and Apple’s Pro strategy to a top left camera.
Other reporting leans harder into the idea that the Dynamic Island is being “killed” on high end models. One analysis notes that a “Leak” suggests Apple’s 2026 “Pro” iPhones may ditch the “Dynamic Island” in favor of under display “Face ID”, while standard models keep a more familiar layout, which would create a clear visual split between tiers for the first time since the notch era. Another breakdown of Apple’s iPhone 18 series says the Pro phones, slated for 2026, may feature under screen “Face ID” that eliminates the “Dynamic Isl” cutout, while non Pro versions arrive later with a more conservative design, reinforcing the idea that Apple is using the premium line as a test bed for radical UI changes.
Display tech: LTPO+, IR and the punch hole compromise
Under display biometrics are only as good as the panel that sits on top of them, which is why so many leaks fixate on Apple’s display stack. One detailed rumor describes iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max “Pro Max To Reportedly Be Equipped With Highly Advanced LTPO” Panels “Which Sport Under” display IR Technol for in screen Face ID, with the infrared system placed behind the OLED rather than in a visible module. That dovetails with other coverage that frames the shift as Apple’s “secret weapon” against rivals, arguing that moving “Face ID” under the panel is the biggest design change since the feature debuted and frees up internal space for larger batteries and more camera hardware.
Even with those advances, most reports agree that a small punch hole will remain for the selfie camera, at least on the first generation of this design. A set of “Key Points” from “Reporters” on the Pro redesign says the phone will feature under display “Face ID” with a punch hole, explicitly “replacing the Dynamic” interface that currently wraps around the pill. Another leak focused on the iPhone 18 Pro family arriving in September 2026 says “Leaks” suggest Apple’s Pro lineup will pair a 2 nm A20 “Pro” chip with under display “Face ID” and camera upgrades, again reinforcing that the visible cutout is shrinking to a simple circle while the rest of the sensor array disappears.
Launch timing, sizes and Pro tier differentiation
On timing, the rumors are unusually consistent. Multiple reports say Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September 2026, with one Vietnamese report on camera upgrades stating that Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 “Pro and” Pro Max in September 2026 and hinting at DSLR style variable aperture on the main lens. A separate social post about September’s iPhone 18 “Pro” says it could hide “Face ID” under the screen and notes that Apple typically launches new iPhones in September, reinforcing that this is a standard fall cycle for Apple.
Beyond timing, the Pro line is expected to pull further away from the standard iPhone 18 models. A Facebook breakdown titled “Pro” and “Pro Max” “What Apple Might Be Preparing for” cites “According” to analyst Jeff Pu that Apple is planning 6.3 inch and 6.9 inch displays, an A20 Pro chip, 12 GB of RAM across the Pro range, triple 48 megapixel cameras and an Apple C2 5G modem, all of which would sit above delayed standard models that reportedly will not arrive until 2027. Another Mac focused report framed as “While the” iPhone 18 “Pro and” iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch until later in the year also mentions that Apple may tweak the chassis to accommodate a larger battery, which fits with the idea that under display sensors free up internal volume.
Why under display Face ID is still controversial
For all the excitement, not everyone is convinced that hiding Face ID is the right move, at least in the short term. One analysis titled “10 reasons iPhone 18 Pro may be worth the wait” notes that the prospect of “Face ID” hidden under the display remains contentious, with “Some” experts arguing that the Pro hardware may only partially remove the Dynamic Island or that Apple could keep a small software driven island even if the cutout shrinks. Another report on iPhone 18 “Pro” and Pro Max launch details underlines that “However” there is still disagreement among sources over whether Apple will completely remove the “Dynamic Island” or let it coexist with improvements to Face ID hardware, which is a reminder that even well sourced leaks can diverge on implementation details.
