Fresh chatter from reliable gadget sleuths is pouring cold water on the idea that Apple will ditch the Dynamic Island or switch to a left-aligned hole‑punch selfie camera on the iPhone 18 Pro line. The latest claims point to a translation error at the root of last week’s headlines, with sources now indicating Apple’s signature pill-shaped cutout will likely remain—potentially in a slightly smaller form.
Mistranslation Sparks Confusion Over iPhone 18 Leaks
The twist comes via Instant Digital, a well-known Weibo account, who says an earlier post from fellow leaker Digital Chat Station was misread by English-language coverage. Rather than signaling a radical move to a lone hole‑punch camera, the original message described Apple relocating one of the Face ID components under the display. In other words, the visible layout may change only marginally, not fundamentally.
That interpretation has been echoed by community watchers. MacRumors flagged the clarification, while the prolific leaker ShrimpApplePro shared an image of an alleged new sensor and camera assembly that lines up with the under-panel component shift without nuking the Dynamic Island. If that holds, expect a refined pill rather than a sweeping redesign.
Under-Display Face ID Is Not Under-Display Camera
This distinction matters. Moving elements of Face ID—such as the infrared flood illuminator or dot projector—beneath the OLED panel is a different technical challenge from placing a full selfie camera there. The former can tolerate some light loss and diffraction; the latter cannot without noticeable image degradation.
Display Supply Chain Consultants has long argued that truly invisible selfie cameras require higher panel transparency, better masking to reduce moiré, and advanced algorithms to correct haze and color shift. We’ve already seen the trade-offs in the real world: Samsung’s under-display camera on the Galaxy Z Fold series is serviceable for video calls but trails conventional sensors for clarity. Apple tends to avoid visible compromises on core camera quality, which helps explain why a full under-display selfie camera may still be a step too far this cycle.
Why Dynamic Island Likely Survives on iPhone 18
Beyond hardware, there’s a strategic reason to keep the Dynamic Island around. Apple rebuilt parts of iOS to make that space useful, tying Live Activities, media controls, and system alerts into the pill area. App adoption followed, turning the cutout into a behavior cue rather than a blemish. Removing it abruptly would ripple through the interface and the developer ecosystem.
A smaller pill is both plausible and consistent with Apple’s pattern: iterate the design as components shrink and power efficiency improves, then tackle the bigger leap once the display stack can hide more optics without visual side effects. Korean industry reporting from outlets like The Elec has previously outlined that two-step roadmap—Face ID elements first, selfie camera later—and the latest leaks track with that approach.
What the Latest Signals Suggest for iPhone 18 Pro
The current consensus among leakers is cautious: expect the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max to keep a centrally aligned pill housing the selfie camera, with some Face ID hardware migrating under the display. The visible result could be a tighter Dynamic Island footprint, not a left-side hole‑punch. Any gains would come from more efficient optics and refined panel etching rather than a wholesale UI rethink.
That aligns with Apple’s recent cadence. The company spread Dynamic Island across the lineup, then optimized it in software while incrementally improving panel tech. A leap to a fully hidden front camera likely waits on panel transparency and sensor fusion advances that meet Apple’s imaging bar without trade-offs—something analysts say is coming, but not quite here yet.
How To Read The Next Wave Of iPhone Leaks
Two takeaways for watchers: first, translation can meaningfully change the story, especially when shorthand from Chinese or Korean sources gets interpreted literally. Second, weigh rumors against track records. Display analysts like DSCC’s Ross Young have repeatedly emphasized the phased nature of under-panel adoption, and that perspective continues to make the most sense when leaks conflict.
Bottom line: the iPhone 18’s front design is unlikely to be unrecognizable. Instead, expect Apple to chip away at what’s visible, move more sensors beneath the glass, and preserve the Dynamic Island’s role until under-display camera tech can deliver top-tier selfies without compromise.
