A fresh leak suggests Apple’s next flagship phones could rethink the Dynamic Island, shifting the visual centerpiece of the iPhone display once again—at least on the Pro tiers. If accurate, this would be the first major hardware change to the cutout area since Apple introduced the feature.
The claim originates from Digital Chat Station, a well-known Weibo account with a track record on display and camera components, and was highlighted by industry watchers. The leak points to iPhone 18 and a follow-up “iPhone Air 2” retaining today’s Dynamic Island, while iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max adopt an “under-display cutout area.” That phrasing hints at either a significantly smaller pill or a single “hole-punch” aperture, with key sensors moving beneath the OLED layer.
What the iPhone 18 Dynamic Island leak claims
Beyond the status area redesign, the lineup is said to mirror the iPhone 17 family in screen sizes: 6.27 inches for iPhone 18 and 18 Pro, 6.55 inches for iPhone Air 2, and 6.86 inches for iPhone 18 Pro Max. All models are tipped to use LTPO panels with 120Hz refresh, closing a long-standing gap between standard and Pro tiers if it holds true.
The inclusion of an Air-branded model again would underline Apple’s strategy of splitting the mainstream category, giving retail shelves a clearer “good, better, best” narrative around size and features. It also gives Apple room to differentiate Pro models visually if the Dynamic Island shrinks or disappears there.
Under‑Display Tech And The Dynamic Island
Moving Face ID components under the display is a major engineering hurdle. Infrared flood illuminators and dot projectors must transmit through OLED without excessive light loss, while the panel still meets brightness, color uniformity, and lifetime targets. Display Supply Chain Consultants has previously outlined a two-step path for Apple: first migrate Face ID under-panel while keeping a camera hole, then move the selfie camera under-panel later once image quality clears Apple’s bar.
Competitors have shipped under-panel cameras in foldables, but image quality trade-offs and moiré artifacts remain. Apple tends to defer until optics, microlens structures, and compensation algorithms minimize those compromises. If the leak is accurate, 18 Pro units could adopt the first step—shrinking the visible cutout—while a fully invisible front system may follow further out.
Design and UX implications of a smaller cutout
Dynamic Island is as much software as hardware. It frames Live Activities—now playing, timers, ride arrivals, and more—around the cutout. A smaller pill or hole-punch would recast that canvas. Expect iOS to adapt by anchoring animations to a tighter focal point or distributing status elements across the top edge when the hardware footprint shrinks.
For developers, Apple’s existing APIs abstract away most of the complexity, so apps shouldn’t break. But a reduced cutout could allow denser status indicators and subtler transitions on Pro models, while the standard and Air variants maintain today’s larger, more expressive Island. It’s a classic Apple play: preserve consistency broadly, reward Pro buyers with cleaner hardware and refined motion language.
Display specs and market context for iPhone 18
Universal LTPO 120Hz would be a notable shift. Most premium Android phones already run at 120Hz, and extending high refresh to all iPhone 18 variants would standardize scrolling fluidity, gaming responsiveness, and always‑on display behavior. The Pro line would still differentiate through materials, cameras, and—if this leak is right—the sleeker status area.
Pro models have commanded a larger share of Apple’s iPhone revenue in recent cycles, according to research firms tracking the channel mix. A visible design change on Pro and Pro Max tends to resonate on sales floors and in marketing, signaling “new” even when core dimensions remain similar.
What to watch next in Apple’s display roadmap
Digital Chat Station has been broadly reliable on component-level details, but Apple prototypes multiple front designs late into the ramp. Corroboration from supply chain checks—Samsung Display, LG Display, and BOE panel orders, as well as Face ID module suppliers—will be key. Watch for references to new status bar behaviors in upcoming iOS betas, and for analyst notes from DSCC or TF International Securities refining the under-panel timeline.
As always, this is a leak, not a launch. If the claims hold, iPhone 18 Pro models could debut a cleaner look that nudges Dynamic Island toward a mostly software construct, while the rest of the lineup keeps the familiar pill. That would set the stage for a gradual march to fully invisible sensors—when the optics, yields, and user experience are ready.
