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iPhone 18 Pro Models Again Rumored to Feature Under-Screen Face ID

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While the iPhone 17 Pro models are still around four months away, there are already rumors about next year's iPhone 18 Pro models.

iPhone-Top-Left-Hole-Punch-Face-ID-Feature-Purple.jpg

The latest word comes from Counterpoint Research vice president Ross Young, who has a good track record with display-related information for future Apple products. In a social media post today, he relayed more information that suggests the iPhone 18 Pro models will be equipped with an under-screen Face ID system.

"At the SID Business Conference today, OTI Lumionics CEO Michael Helander confirmed that they expect phones with under panel Face ID using their materials to be available for sale in 2026," wrote Young. "This suggests that iPhone 18 Pro models will have under panel Face ID with other brands and models to follow."

Earlier this month, The Information's Wayne Ma also reported that iPhone 18 Pro models will feature under-screen Face ID. He said the devices will have only a small hole in the top-left corner of the screen, to accommodate the front camera. The devices will no longer have a pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen, according to the report, but is unclear if that means the Dynamic Island feature will be discontinued.

Apple should release the iPhone 18 Pro models in September 2026.

Article Link: iPhone 18 Pro Models Again Rumored to Feature Under-Screen Face ID
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/13/iphone-18-pro-under-screen-face-id-again-rumored/
MacRumors said:
He said the devices will have only a small hole in the top-left corner of the screen, to accommodate the front camera. The devices will no longer have a pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen, according to the report, but is unclear if that means the Dynamic Island feature will be discontinued.
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Honestly, I’d rather have Dynamic Island or even a notch than an off-center, lone cutout.
 
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That off center hole punch seems really sketchy. Sounds like a terrible idea just to be different. I doubt Apple would do something like that since they’re generally all about symmetry with most things. They have broken that rule a few times though…

Personally, I don’t mind the notch, especially the second iteration of it. I get why some people do, but I don’t understand why they are so angry about it. An off center hole punch would be more of an eyesore to me than the notch is.
 
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I cannot see apple changing to a punch hole design and than going all screen within a year.

The notch lasted around 4 years, being than replaced by its successor the dynamic island, if the rumours hold up the dynamic island will have lasted 3 years.

The anniversary model will be released in 2027 i cannot see apple ditching a hole punch design within a year, it just does not line up.
 
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FaceID under the screen would be cool as long as it’s just as effective as it is now. But, a hole punch camera in the top left sounds terrible in my opinion. Dynamic Island is too great of a feature.

I’ve used both iterations of the notch, currently have Dynamic Island, plus a hole punch (Galaxy S24) and an under the screen camera (Fold 3) and I still prefer Dynamic Island. I absolutely love the software features of it and I probably use it the most out of every other feature that isn’t calling or texting.

If they’re going under the screen for FaceID I’d rather they figure something else out or at least keep it centred and have Dynamic Island stay software wise. Surely FaceID can be off centre since it works sideways, upside down, angled, etc.
 
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Marty80 said:
I cannot see apple changing to a punch hole design and than going all screen within a year.

The notch lasted around 4 years, being than replaced by its successor the dynamic island, if the rumours hold up the dynamic island will have lasted 3 years.

The anniversary model will be released in 2027 i cannot see apple ditching a hole punch design within a year, it just does not line up.
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The pill design was used on 14 pro, 15 pro, 16 pro, and 17 pro, which is 4 phones/years. It will also still be used on new phones that aren’t pro phones for a while after that. The same goes for a potential punch hole design, even if the pro models go without it the following year, it will still be used for cheaper models for a long time.
 
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FaceID still seems very intrusive to me. I do not want my phone to scan my face. If the feature is built-in, I have to trust Apple that it will only scan my face if I agree and that it will not share that data with anyone else.

Isn't privacy the idea behind locking your phone? How is a face scan compatible with privacy?

Having those sensor under the display makes it much harder to physically block them without also blocking the content on the display. Someone would have to invent a filter that let's the light pass through, but stops FaceID from working.
 
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Not happening since Apple want a distinctive visual feature that makes it easy to identify their products at the first glance. That's why the notch was added to MacBooks and iPhones switching from notch to pill instead of hidden/hole punch displays.
 
techfreak23 said:
That off center hole punch seems really sketchy. Sounds like a terrible idea just to be different. I doubt Apple would do something like that since they’re generally all about symmetry with most things. They have broken that rule a few times though…

Personally, I don’t mind the notch, especially the second iteration of it. I get why some people do, but I don’t understand why they are so angry about it. An off center hole punch would be more of an eyesore to me than the notch is.
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I mean I’m sure that it’ll look cool, but like you, since I got the XR, then the 13 and now the 16e, the notch has never bothered me. Nor does it on my mba.

I admit to thinking that the Dynamic Island on my partner’s 16 pro max looks cool, but I certainly don’t go back to my 16e with tears of envy.

Talking of which, maybe if the camera is off centre, apple will still incorporate the Dynamic Island. A dynamic atoll maybe?

But I share your concern. Centred would be preferable. Maybe the Dynamic Island doesn’t bother me but an off centred camera punch would.
 
Apple would never put the camera off centered. They are all about symmetry, and plus it would ruin so many ways you control your iPhone, from games to watching YouTube and a lot of other things that have buttons in those areas that im sure developers would hate to change just for the sake of Apples so called "innovation". And they have been saying under display Face ID for YEARS. I'll believe it when I see it (which is probably never lol). One thing I would very much like to see either in the 17 series or the 18 series is a considerably larger sensor for all the cameras, especially the ultra wide. As well as a silicone-carbide battery. Other than that I really don't know why people are getting on Apple for not innovating. Like what more could you want out of a phone? It's a tool not something you should be focusing your whole life around. Either way I'm curious to see just how much more they can put into a phone.
 
Skyscraperfan said:
FaceID still seems very intrusive to me. I do not want my phone to scan my face. If the feature is built-in, I have to trust Apple that it will only scan my face if I agree and that it will not share that data with anyone else.

Isn't privacy the idea behind locking your phone? How is a face scan compatible with privacy?

Having those sensor under the display makes it much harder to physically block them without also blocking the content on the display. Someone would have to invent a filter that let's the light pass through, but stops FaceID from working.
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Your face's biometric data isn't sent to iCloud or anywhere else. It's kept on-device, in a piece of hardware called the Secure Enclave, which is part of the device's (iPhone, iPad) main A- or M- series chip. The Secure Enclave is a separate, encrypted subsystem that's isolated from the rest of the operating system, and even Apple itself can't access it. The placement of the 30,000 infrared dots that Face ID projects onto your face is converted into a mathematical representation, so it's not a visual image, and that numerical data is what’s stored, not a photo or video, and it's encrypted and accessible only to the Secure Enclave. Face ID data never leaves your device and is never backed up to iCloud, even in encrypted backups. Apps don't get access to Face ID data, and instead when they use Face ID for user authentication, they request and receive only a yes/no result (authentication success/failure) from the OS, so apps never see or process any biometric data themselves.

As far as blocking the Face ID hardware, you don't need to, since you can turn it off in the "Face ID & Passcode" settings. You can disable it for only certain functions if you like, including iPhone Unlock, iTunes & App Store, Wallet & Apple Pay, Password Autofill, and Other Apps (that have requested Face ID). This disables Face ID for that function and reverts to passcode or password. If you want to completely disable Face ID, scroll down and tap “Reset Face ID”, which erases your stored facial data from the Secure Enclave. You can also temporarily disable Face ID on the fly, for instance in a security or legal situation, by pressing and holding the side button plus either volume button until you see the power-off screen. This disables Face ID and requires your passcode next time.
 
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Aleh said:
The pill design was used on 14 pro, 15 pro, 16 pro, and 17 pro, which is 4 phones/years. It will also still be used on new phones that aren’t pro phones for a while after that. The same goes for a potential punch hole design, even if the pro models go without it the following year, it will still be used for cheaper models for a long time.
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Yup. Apple orders a lot of a given part to get volume discounts, and uses that stock of parts for years to assemble succeeding models, and for repairs, until they've used up their inventory for that part. And under-display cameras will be touted as a premium feature only for the Pro models during that time.
 
Probably it will be having an under screen FaceID but I think the cut out on the screen will be still in the center. Waiting to hear more about this in the coming months.
 
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MacBH928 said:
what we want is under screen TOUCH ID
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You want an organic photodiode solution that would enable whole-screen touchID - see the top story on this page

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This should have been for this years 17 pro, we have had the same cut out for years
 
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