iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Feature Smaller Dynamic Island, Claims Leaker

[MacRumors]

Apple's largest high-end model in the upcoming iPhone 17 series this year will feature a smaller Dynamic Island, according to Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station.

The leaker claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will adopt a "metalens" for Face ID that integrates the transmitter and receiver components, which will reduce the size and thickness of structural elements, resulting in a smaller Dynamic Island on the device. The technology will also be applied to the next iPad Pro and a rumored foldable iPad, reckons the leaker.

Unlike traditional iPhone cameras, which use curved lenses to bend light toward the image sensor, a metalens is an ultra-thin, flat lens with microscopic nano-structures that precisely control and focus light.

Conflicting Reports

Today's rumor goes against a January report by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that claimed the upcoming iPhone 17 models will not feature a smaller Dynamic Island. However, Kuo's report contradicts analyst Jeff Pu's prediction last year that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will adopt a metalens for Face ID that results in a "much narrowed" Dynamic Island on the device. Pu in 2024 reiterated the claim several times, and he has a fairly good track record with Apple rumors.

• 14 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

As for Digital Chat Station, they accurately revealed that the ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus would feature a slightly smaller 48-megapixel sensor than the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, as well as the display panel design of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 back in 2020.

Apple introduced the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro models in 2022, and it is also available on all iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, but the size has not changed in successive models. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series next September.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Feature Smaller Dynamic Island, Claims Leaker

 

[EugW]

But Apple says Dynamic Island is a feature, so why would they make it smaller?

/s

 

[samachara]

With a few more years of advances and shrinking, Dynamic Island will turn into Shutter Island.

 

[kiranmk2]

If a flat metalens is a thing, does this mean FaceID can finally be brought to the MacBook range?

 

[Kylo83]

This has to happen im so sick of notches and cut outs, its been years time to innovate

 

[contacos]

just put a fingerprint scanner in the camera button (yes, its a button) ... its not like they have not done it before (iPad)

 

[Dr McKay]

This has to happen im so sick of notches and cut outs, its been years time to innovate

It’s probably going to happen until apple decides underscreen cameras are good enough. Those out already have reviewers reporting selfies appear a touch ‘soft’.

 

[thefrost]

Dynamic Dot? /s

 

[Aeronauts]

Smaller is better but I look forward to the day when everything is hidden under the screen.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

But Apple says Dynamic Island is a feature, so why would they make it smaller?

/s

The*** dynamic island is not a living being.

 

[cableguy84]

Just remove it and have 1 big screen please

 

[tomtad]

But Apple says Dynamic Island is a feature, so why would they make it smaller?

/s

I know /s but it will just shrink down more when not in use, and the black gap for the cameras will be less.

 

[sunapple]

Maybe someday they’ll innovate an under screen fingerprint reader so the island can be even smaller. As a bonus it’s often faster and more reliable.

 

[Kylo83]

It’s probably going to happen until apple decides underscreen cameras are good enough. Those out already have reviewers reporting selfies appear a touch ‘soft’.

Instead of wasting time on ai they should be focusing on real innovation, look at 4 years of the MacBook pro the huge notch for a really bad webcam is wrong; every window laptop has tiny bezels with webcams in them, the macbook webcam is so bad

 

[Froilan]

Apple's largest high-end model in the upcoming iPhone 17 series this year will feature a smaller Dynamic Island, according to Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station.

The leaker claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will adopt a "metalens" for Face ID that integrates the transmitter and receiver components, which will reduce the size and thickness of structural elements, resulting in a smaller Dynamic Island on the device. The technology will also be applied to the next iPad Pro and a rumored foldable iPad, reckons the leaker.

Unlike traditional iPhone cameras, which use curved lenses to bend light toward the image sensor, a metalens is an ultra-thin, flat lens with microscopic nano-structures that precisely control and focus light.

Conflicting Reports

Today's rumor goes against a January report by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that claimed the upcoming iPhone 17 models will not feature a smaller Dynamic Island. However, Kuo's report contradicts analyst Jeff Pu's prediction last year that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will adopt a metalens for Face ID that results in a "much narrowed" Dynamic Island on the device. Pu in 2024 reiterated the claim several times, and he has a fairly good track record with Apple rumors.

• 14 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

As for Digital Chat Station, they accurately revealed that the ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus would feature a slightly smaller 48-megapixel sensor than the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, as well as the display panel design of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 back in 2020.

Apple introduced the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro models in 2022, and it is also available on all iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, but the size has not changed in successive models. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series next September.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Feature Smaller Dynamic Island, Claims Leaker

And then by 2026 iPhone 18 base will feauture smaller dynamic island for example iPhone 16 is 6.1 inches and then iPhone 17 will have 6.3 inches. So would you upgrade 😅

 

[Froilan]

And then by 2026 iPhone 18 base will feauture smaller dynamic island for example iPhone 16 is 6.1 inches and then iPhone 17 will have 6.3 inches. But for me i'm waiting for 17 base 🙂

 

[Lyrics23]

If a flat metalens is a thing, does this mean FaceID can finally be brought to the MacBook range?

Unlikely. They could have added FaceID to MacBooks years ago with no problems, but have chosen not to do so.

Unlike a camera where you need to consider how flattering your angle is, there’s no reason FaceID couldn’t have been a separate module placed above the keyboard in the MacBook body rather than in the screen with the camera.

Laptops are absolutely perfect for FaceID because by their nature you’re always going to be perfectly positioned for authentication, but it seems Apple have no interest in the idea.

 

[Madhatter32]

Smaller is better ... in this case.

 

[Edsel]

Unlikely. They could have added FaceID to MacBooks years ago with no problems, but have chosen not to do so.

Unlike a camera where you need to consider how flattering your angle is, there’s no reason FaceID couldn’t have been a separate module placed above the keyboard in the MacBook body rather than in the screen with the camera.

Laptops are absolutely perfect for FaceID because by their nature you’re always going to be perfectly positioned for authentication, but it seems Apple have no interest in the idea.

Yup. My Lenovo, Asus, Microsoft laptops/tablets have faceID and they work just fine.

 

[coffeemilktea]

I hope they shrink it down until it just looks like the tiny camera cutout on other phones. 🤞

 

[ThailandToo]

This has to happen im so sick of notches and cut outs, its been years time to innovate

I so agree with you. I hated the notch and feel disdain for the Dynamic Island. I want an uninterrupted display and am willing to give up much to get it. FaceID is nice, but I would happily give it up to get distraction-free display. I would even give up the camera… Apple really wants to innovate, make it happen now without giving up anything. Maybe a display on the back so the only camera needed is a 200mp rear camera that’s ultra wide and can be zoomed in to liking. With a smaller 4” rear display for FaceTime calls and notifications. I love the iPad Pro M4. So nice and distraction free. Hell, I would take some bezels to hide the camera and FaceID. It shouldn’t take much. I also want a bezel that’s 100 percent symmetrical with the frame. One reason I returned the 16 Pro was the different sized bezels.

 

[soyazul]

just put a fingerprint scanner in the camera button (yes, its a button) ... its not like they have not done it before (iPad)

totally agree

 

[newyorksole]

idk I kinda like the shape of the DI. I prefer it over the pinhole on Android phones even though it’s bigger.

so I’m looking forward to a smaller DI and eventually nothing up there at all.

 

[Belisama]

The "features" described here represent very incremental "progress" IMO.
Metalens technology could make the giganormous camera bump disappear; this would be real progress.
Instead, they will shrink the useless "dynamic island", blah blah blah, but the iPhone 17 does not seem to be significantly different from iPhones released years and years ago.

 

[cwwilson]

So what is honestly the point of this phone? It doesn't really bring anything "must-have" to the table for owners of the 16 or even 15 Pro Max. Why is Apple so content with such minor updates on their flagship device?