It looks like Apple might be ready to ditch one of the most talked-about iPhone features of the last few years—the Dynamic Island.
Highlights
- Dynamic Island May Be Gone: Apple is reportedly replacing the pill-shaped Dynamic Island with a punch-hole camera and under-display Face ID system on iPhone 18 Pro.
- All-Screen Ambition: The new design uses HIAA (Hole-in-Active-Area) tech to hide Face ID sensors beneath the OLED, bringing a cleaner, immersive display.
- Pro Models Only: The iPhone 18 Pro (6.27″) and Pro Max (6.86″) are expected to feature 1.5K LTPO OLED screens with adaptive refresh rates—no word yet on non-Pro variants.
- Goodbye, UI Gimmick? With hardware no longer needing a visible cutout, the Dynamic Island’s role as a software layer could fade or evolve into something new.
- Massive Design Shift: This would mark Apple’s biggest visual change since 2017’s notch, emphasizing minimalism and high screen-to-body ratios.
- Apple’s Confidence in Invisible Tech: Despite the complexity of under-display sensors, patents and display partner tech (Samsung’s HIAA) suggest Apple’s been preparing for this.
- More Divide Between Pro & Standard: The update will likely widen the feature gap between Pro and non-Pro iPhones, reinforcing the high-end value proposition.
According to a new leak from tipster Digital Chat Station, the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are set to debut a cleaner, more immersive screen design—one that replaces the familiar pill-shaped cutout with a hole-punch selfie camera and under-display Face ID.
What’s Changing in the iPhone 18 Pro?
Let’s break it down. If this leak is accurate (and the source has a decent track record), Apple is planning a major display overhaul for the 2026 Pro lineup:
- iPhone 18 Pro: 6.27-inch LTPO OLED
- iPhone 18 Pro Max: 6.86-inch LTPO OLED
- Both with 1.5K resolution and adaptive refresh rates.
But the real headline is the Hole-in-Active-Area (HIAA) technology. This allows Face ID sensors to live invisibly beneath the screen—leaving only a tiny hole-punch for the front-facing camera. It’s a big leap toward the holy grail of smartphone design: a truly all-screen iPhone.
So… What Happens to the Dynamic Island?
This is where it gets interesting. The Dynamic Island—Apple’s software-powered answer to camera cutouts—was a clever UI trick to hide the not-so-subtle reality of front-facing hardware. But if the physical need for it vanishes, what’s the point of keeping the island around?
Sure, Apple could keep a software-only version of it alive, maybe for live activities or app alerts. But with a cleaner front design, its once-revolutionary UI might start to feel like yesterday’s news.
Expect debates among Apple fans, but one thing’s clear: the design language of the iPhone is evolving.
Tech Hurdles? Definitely.
Let’s not pretend this is easy. Face ID relies on infrared sensors, dot projectors, and flood illuminators—all of which need to work flawlessly through an OLED panel. That’s not a small ask.
But Apple has been working on this for years. The company’s patents and Samsung’s HIAA display tech suggest real progress in making these under-display components both functional and secure.
If anyone can pull off invisible biometrics without compromising performance, it’s probably Apple.
A More Distinct Divide Between Pro and Non-Pro iPhones
This move also continues Apple’s trend of reserving the most cutting-edge tech for its Pro models.
While the budget-friendly iPhone 16e recently ditched the Dynamic Island and brought Face ID without any fancy display tech, the 18 Pro line looks ready to embrace hardware minimalism at its boldest.
Expect this shift to widen the gap between regular iPhones and the Pro tier—not just in price, but in design ambition.
Why This Matters (and Why It’s Exciting)
If this leak pans out, the iPhone 18 Pro series could mark one of the biggest visual changes to the iPhone since the notch was introduced in 2017.
- Cleaner design
- Smaller camera cutout
- Under-display sensors
- More immersive screen experience
And that’s not just good news for aesthetics. It’s the kind of change that opens up new possibilities for app design, media viewing, gaming, and yes, even TikTok scrolling.
