Apple is already laying the groundwork for the iPhone 18 series, signaling that the company wants its next flagship launch to be as polished and predictable as possible. Fresh chatter from a well-known tipster suggests the lineup has entered the prototype manufacturing stage, an important step that typically happens as designs and components begin moving closer to final validation.
The most attention-grabbing rumor so far is aimed squarely at the high-end models. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now said to be testing under-display Face ID, a change that could meaningfully reshape the front of the phone by relocating key Face ID hardware beneath the screen. The wording shared by the source is a little unclear in translation, but the implication points toward under-display technology rather than a conventional cutout-only approach.
Even with that potential shift, expectations remain that Apple won’t go all the way to an under-screen selfie camera in this generation. That bigger visual leap is still widely believed to be reserved for a milestone release down the road, rather than arriving with the iPhone 18 family.
Another notable twist: the rumor includes a second-generation iPhone Air. Recently, there have been questions about whether Apple would continue the Air line at all, following reports of weaker-than-expected sales and reduced production. However, the new leak claims Apple is still planning an iPhone Air 2, and it even outlines display sizes for what looks like a four-model lineup of standard, “regular-shaped” flagships.
Interestingly, there’s no mention here of a foldable iPhone arriving alongside the iPhone 18 series. That omission doesn’t automatically rule anything out, but it does suggest that Apple’s most immediate plan remains focused on four traditional models rather than expanding the lineup with a foldable device at the same time.
If the leak is accurate, all four iPhone 18 models are expected to use LTPO OLED displays with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, which would help deliver smoother scrolling and more responsive animations while still supporting power-saving variable refresh behavior.
Here are the rumored display sizes and front design notes for each model:
iPhone 18: 6.27-inch LTPO 120Hz display with Dynamic Island
iPhone Air 2: 6.55-inch LTPO 120Hz display with Dynamic Island
iPhone 18 Pro: 6.27-inch LTPO 120Hz display with under-display Face ID
iPhone 18 Pro Max: 6.86-inch LTPO 120Hz display with under-display Face ID
As always with early production-phase rumors, nothing is locked in. Prototype manufacturing is where companies often test multiple variations, and Apple could still adjust sizes, features, or even the overall lineup depending on performance, yields, or last-minute design decisions. Still, if these details hold, the iPhone 18 Pro models could deliver one of the most meaningful front-of-screen changes in years—without waiting for a future anniversary edition.
