Key Takeaways
1. Apple is redesigning the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, introducing under-display Face ID and a punch-hole camera.
2. The front-facing camera will move to a small punch-hole in the upper-left corner, potentially ending the current Dynamic Island design.
3. This redesign marks a shift from the notch and pill-shaped cutout to a more streamlined look similar to Android devices.
4. The iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to feature under-display Face ID as early as 2026, with staggered releases for different models.
5. Other models like the iPhone 18 Air, a foldable iPhone, and base iPhone 18 variants will launch in spring 2027, maintaining the current design.
According to a report from The Information, Apple is working on a major redesign for its next top-tier phones, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The report indicates that Apple might debut under-display Face ID for the first time, along with a new screen design that replaces the pill-shaped cutout with a singular punch-hole camera.
iPhone 18 Pro series gets a fresh look
The redesign involves moving the front-facing camera to a tiny punch-hole located in the upper-left corner of the screen, while the Face ID components get embedded underneath the display. This alteration could mean the end of the current Dynamic Island design, although it remains uncertain if Apple will fully discard it or modify it to fit the new design.
Evolution of Apple’s design choices
Apple has shifted from the notch seen in the iPhone X to the pill-shaped cutout introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro series, all aimed at utilizing screen space more efficiently. Transitioning to a single punch-hole gives the iPhone a look that’s more in line with what’s common among Android devices, despite Apple’s commitment to 3D face recognition rather than using under-display fingerprint readers.
The report also mentions that Apple might choose to stagger the release of the iPhone 18 series, with the Pro versions expected to showcase the new under-display Face ID design as early as 2026. Alongside the Pro versions, the company could also unveil the iPhone 18 Air and a foldable iPhone. Meanwhile, the base iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e could launch in spring 2027, maintaining the current “2+1 punch-hole” design.