Apple’s iPhone 18 lineup is still months away from its expected September launch, but leaks around the design of the upcoming Pro models continue to surface. Earlier reports hinted at a major front-panel redesign, including under-display Face ID and a left-aligned Dynamic Island. However, a new leak now challenges those claims.
According to fresh information, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to retain a centre-aligned selfie camera, housed within a smaller Dynamic Island, rather than shifting the cutout to the left side of the display. The standard iPhone 18 Pro is tipped to feature a 6.27-inch display, while the Pro Max variant could arrive with a larger 6.86-inch panel.
Dynamic Island Design May Evolve, Not Disappear
Weibo tipster Momentary Digital (translated from Chinese) claims that earlier reports suggesting a left-shifted Dynamic Island were the result of mistranslation. Instead, the leak states that only some Face ID components may move toward the left, while the selfie camera remains centred within a reduced Dynamic Island cutout.
This contradicts previous speculation that Apple might eliminate the Dynamic Island altogether in favour of a single punch-hole camera design on the iPhone 18 Pro series.
Display industry analyst Ross Young has also weighed in, noting on X that not all Face ID elements are expected to move under the display just yet. As a result, Apple is likely to stick with a smaller notch-style solution rather than a fully under-display system. Young adds that this design approach could remain unchanged through 2026 and 2027.
Display and Hardware Expectations
Leaks suggest the iPhone 18 Pro lineup will feature LTPO OLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate. While Apple is expected to continue refining the Dynamic Island in future models, a complete removal may still be a few generations away.
On the hardware front, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are rumoured to ship with 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM, an 18-megapixel front camera with a 6P lens, and Apple’s C2 modem. The rear camera setup could include three 48-megapixel sensors, covering wide, periscope telephoto, and ultra-wide photography.
Apple first introduced the Dynamic Island with the iPhone 14 Pro series in September 2022, replacing the traditional notch and enabling live activities, alerts, and system interactions. With the iPhone 18 Pro series, Apple appears set to refine this design rather than abandon it entirely.
Apple is expected to officially unveil the iPhone 18 Pro series in September, continuing its annual launch cycle.