Top News

Highlights

• Apple is testing under-display Face ID using micro-perforated glass for better infrared transmission.
• The iPhone 18 Pro may feature a smaller Dynamic Island or a pinhole camera cutout.
• Supplier activity suggests growing confidence in Apple’s plans for new display integration.
• iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold are expected in 2026, while standard models may shift to early 2027.

Apple’s next iPhone 18 Pro lineup might see one of the most significant design changes in years. Recent leaks suggest that the company is testing under-display Face ID technology. According to a reliable source, Apple is working on a new display setup that allows the TrueDepth system’s infrared sensors to operate beneath the screen, without distortion or performance issues.

This may bring Apple closer to an edge-to-edge display without the visible pill-shaped cutout of the current Dynamic Island.

Micro-Perforated Glass: The Technology Behind the Upgrade

The leak shows that Apple’s method mirrors industrial display techniques already in use elsewhere. These techniques use micro-perforated or nano-patterned glass to improve light transmission in specific areas above the sensor array. By allowing more infrared light to pass through these tiny patterns, the TrueDepth system can function accurately, even when hidden beneath the display panel.

This method addresses one of Apple’s most significant technical challenges. Current OLED screens scatter infrared light, disrupting Face ID sensors. The improved glass treatment helps reduce this issue, keeping reliability high while ensuring the display maintains consistent brightness and color.

Suppliers Preparing for Potential Production

The report also notes that news of Apple’s progress has prompted key suppliers to accelerate preparations for possible mass production. This suggests that Apple may be confident enough in the technology to begin organizing its supply chain for the iPhone 18 Pro models next year.

While no final decisions have been made public, such supplier activity typically occurs after Apple has passed the early prototype phases.

Conflicting Rumors About the 2026 Design

Although several rumors point to under-display Face ID debuting in 2026, analysts and supply-chain insiders disagree.

Rumor 1: Dynamic Island Removed Entirely

A May report from The Information stated that the iPhone 18 Pro models would not include the Dynamic Island, retaining only a small pinhole cutout in the upper-left corner for the front camera.

Rumor 2: Smaller Dynamic Island Instead of Full Removal

However, other reports suggest a different scenario. Some analysts believe that Apple might introduce under-display Face ID while still keeping a smaller version of the Dynamic Island. They argue that even if most sensors are moved under the screen, the camera still needs a visible opening unless Apple is ready to use under-display camera technology, which still doesn’t meet Apple’s image quality standards.

Ross Young and Mark Gurman Support a Streamlined Dynamic Island

Display analyst Ross Young recently mentioned that while the iPhone 18 Pro could feature under-display Face ID, that doesn’t mean the Dynamic Island will be removed entirely. He believes the pill-shaped cutout will shrink, accommodating just the front camera and possibly limited supporting hardware.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has supported this view, noting that Apple has been working on a streamlined Dynamic Island for next year’s Pro models. He reports that Apple plans to reduce visible hardware while moving the main TrueDepth sensors beneath the display.

Today’s new information backs up that direction: the iPhone 18 Pro models are likely to relocate the TrueDepth components under the screen while keeping a small camera cutout, leading to a noticeably smaller Dynamic Island.

While the latest leak did not specifically mention Pro models, supply chain sources have often used the term loosely during early testing phases. Historically, first-generation display innovations nearly always launch on Pro-tier iPhones.

A New Release Cycle: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold Arriving Together

Besides hardware updates, Apple is expected to introduce a staggered release cycle for its 2026 iPhone lineup. The iPhone 18 Pro models, along with the new iPhone Fold, are set to launch in September 2026. Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e models are rumored to come later, in early 2027. This reflects a strategic change in Apple’s product timing.

A Major Step Toward the All-Screen iPhone

If Apple successfully integrates under-display Face ID into the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, it will represent one of the most significant front-facing design changes since removing the home button. With better display transparency, smaller cutouts, and a more immersive screen, the 2026 Pro models could be a significant step toward Apple’s long-term vision of an entirely uninterrupted, all-screen iPhone.

Final Outlook

With suppliers ramping up preparations and multiple respected analysts pointing to the same year, 2026 is shaping up to be transformative for the iPhone Pro series. Under-display Face ID – powered by micro-perforated glass – may be the breakthrough that propels Apple into its next era of design minimalism and display innovation.

The countdown to the first near all-screen iPhone has officially begun.