Here's What Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro Display Could Look Like

[MacRumors]

If you've been following iPhone 18 Pro reports recently, you'll know that there are two competing rumors from usually reliable sources about how Apple plans to integrate Face ID into the display, and both of them likely affect the fate of the Dynamic Island – and in turn the overall look of the display itself.

Last month, The Information's Wayne Ma said that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max would have "only a small hole cutout in the top-left corner to accommodate the front-facing camera."

Unless Apple opts to still periodically display the familiar pill-shaped interface element in its iOS 27 software, Ma's wording suggests that the devices might not have a Dynamic Island at all. Taking Ma's report as a cue, developer Filip Vabroušek has helpfully attempted to visualize what such an iPhone 18 Pro model could look like (see below – and ignore the iOS version shown).

Concept render of iPhone 18 Pro with top-left cutout (credit: Filip Vabroušek)​

All well and good, you might think. However, Counterpoint Research VP Ross Young this week lobbed a grenade into Ma's settled territory by claiming that the iPhone 18 Pro will still have some visible Face ID elements.

For this reason, Young believes that the devices will still have a Dynamic Island, albeit a "smaller" version compared to the one on the iPhone 14 Pro through iPhone 16 models. Vabroušek has again stepped in to give us a peek at this alternative implementation.

Concept render of iPhone 18 Pro with smaller Dynamic Island (credit: Filip Vabroušek)​

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also said that Apple will shrink the size of the Dynamic Island on at least some iPhone models launching next year, so there are now multiple sources who believe that iPhone 18 models will still have a smaller Dynamic Island rather than only a front camera hole.

So there you have it: two rival interpretations of what the iPhone 18 Pro's display could look like. It's quite a big deal for anyone who plans to upgrade their iPhone next year, considering how much time we spend staring at the screen.

As for the 20th anniversary iPhone, due in 2027, Young's roadmap also threw a spanner in the works by refuting claims by the likes of Gurman that it will be the first iPhone with a truly uninterrupted display with no cutouts.

Young now believes that the first iPhone with both under-screen Face ID and an under-screen front camera will be released all the way in 2030, suggesting that a truly all-screen iPhone remains a full five years away.

Article Link: Here's What Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro Display Could Look Like

 

[thiscatisfat]

So we're having Xiaomi Redmi vibes going on...I would rather they keep the notch, at least it's a characteristic to the iPhone by now. Displays with puncholes were a thing 6 years ago on like a 299 euro Androids.

If this was the same Apple that released the first iPhone, we wouldn't even need to talk about some punchole dynamic island by now and the sensors would be under the display 5 years ago.

 

[klasma]

Cool, this looks like you’ll be able to attach your phone to a keychain!

 

[one more]

That hole on the left top looks awful!
The second render with a smaller DI looks much better, IMO.

 

[dampfnudel]

The one with the smaller DI looks much better than the cheap Android look of the other one.

 

[sdz]

Android phones were the design pinnacles all along. Move away, Apple.

 

[flottenheimer]

It's quite a big deal for anyone who plans to upgrade their iPhone next year, considering how much time we spend staring at the screen.

Not really.
At least I hope this is not what 'Quite a big deal' has been reduced to for anyone. ;D

 

[Tankmaze]

Ew, I hope it doesnt look like this, looks like cheap generic android phone.
If Apple have to get camera hole, I hope it is in the top middle and still use dynamic island.

 

[sunapple]

If the cutout is not so different that it's ugly and polarising, it's not Apple. Not feeling these renders.

 

[SoldOnApple]

That’s more of an Android thing. If Apple can’t put it under the screen then it’ll be hidden in a Dynamic Island, helps serve as a differentiator anyway to the less observant kids out there.

 

[tonie walker]

should be a heart shape pill hole…

 

[TechRunner]

That offends my sense of symmetry. As others have said, I'd rather see a smaller DI than an off-center pinhole.

 

[klasma]

Latest supply-chain rumors say the Pro will get three cutouts:

 

[TechWhisperer]

Just leave it in the middle until the under display tech arrives. It’s okay, Apple. We can wait.

 

[Anonymous123]

The smaller dynamic island looks better to me. Having a live activity in the middle but the hole in the left would look weird. Keeping the dynamic island would allow it to work and act more seamlessly with iOS’ existing features.

 

[maszaikasza]

I don’t think Apple would ever put a single hole off-center on the screen - it’d mess up the whole Dynamic Island feature.

 

[Big_D]

The top left doesn't look right, it doesn't feel like "Apple Design™️", the aesthetics are just wrong. The small, central DI looks better. The top left just feels like cheap Android designs.

 

[uacd]

If this is actually true, this is super, extra fugly. It looks like Galaxy S10, and it is already a 6 year old smartphone. What is wrong with Apple… Variable aperture (totally useless in smartphone, yet another mechanical part to break over time), curved edges rumors (HATE them!!), now this, are they mutating into older version of Samsung or what???

 

[flobach]

should be a heart shape pill hole…

Should be a heart shaped box 🤘

 

[AAPLGeek]

Latest supply-chain rumors say the Pro will get three cutouts:

View attachment 2523052

Gurman thinks this is the iPhone 18 Ultra

 

[nordique]

So

Like the pixel 4a?

 

[nordique]

The top left doesn't look right, it doesn't feel like "Apple Design™️", the aesthetics are just wrong. The small, central DI looks better. The top left just feels like cheap Android designs.

Agree 100%

 

[svish]

If it is a hole cut out, not sure whether it will be off center. Still a long time away. Looking forward to seeing the various rumors in the coming months.

 

[mnewby]

What Apple could do to be different is put in a full size SLR punch hole in the middle of the screen. This way you now get selfies at true SLR quality due to the lens size and plus they invent a new type of video format where you just watch the edge of the screen. You're going to love it.

 

[MRSugarD]

I'm not a fan of the Dynamic Island but please keep it rather than the off-set camera hole like seen on Androids from 2019 (Samsung's S10 for example).