Apple’s next big iPhone redesign may be closer than it looks. With the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max now less than a year from their expected unveiling, new reporting is offering an early look at what could be one of the most noticeable changes to Apple’s premium iPhones in years: a major shift in how the front camera and Face ID are built into the display.
The biggest rumored change centers on the end of the familiar pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout on the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Instead, Apple is said to be moving to a punch-hole selfie camera placed in the top-left corner of the screen. If that happens, the display would look cleaner at a glance, with much less screen space reserved for camera hardware.
What makes this even more interesting is the claim that Face ID could be heading under the display on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. In practical terms, that means Apple would hide much of the Face ID system beneath the screen, leaving only the small punch-hole opening for the front-facing camera. This kind of approach has been rumored for years, and if Apple pulls it off at a “Pro” level, it could be a meaningful step toward an all-screen iPhone design.
Beyond the front design, the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to remain broadly similar to the iPhone 17 Pro in overall look and feel. However, there are several hardware upgrades and internal changes being discussed that could still make the iPhone 18 Pro generation a substantial leap.
On the connectivity side, Apple reportedly plans to continue pushing its own wireless silicon. The iPhone 18 Pro may use either a C1X modem or Apple’s next C2 modem, paired with an N1 networking chip. Meanwhile, a more budget-focused model, often referred to as the iPhone 17e in current rumors, is expected to use a C1-series modem without the N1 chip, and could include magnetic wireless charging.
Separate chatter also supports the punch-hole direction. One well-known China-based source has suggested Apple is currently testing a specialized hole-punch solution, which aligns with the idea of a punch-hole camera for the iPhone 18 Pro series.
Here’s what the broader rumor picture currently suggests about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, based on multiple leaks and reports:
The iPhone 18 Pro could feature a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max may reach 6.9 inches, matching the screen sizes expected on the iPhone 17 Pro models.
Apple may add a stainless steel vapor chamber, potentially improving thermal performance for demanding tasks like gaming, video work, and sustained AI processing.
The camera control button could be simplified internally, with Apple reportedly removing a capacitive induction layer and keeping only a pressure-sensing layer.
The iPhone 18 Pro models may adopt a three-layer stacked image sensor, which could deliver improvements to photography performance, speed, and image processing.
Apple is said to be testing at least one new iPhone 18 Pro color, with brown, purple, or burgundy mentioned as potential final options.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to use the A20 Pro chip. It’s rumored to be built on TSMC’s 2nm process and may use advanced packaging designed to better integrate the processor, unified memory, and Neural Engine—changes that could boost performance and efficiency while strengthening on-device AI capabilities.
Finally, the iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to use Apple’s in-house C2 modem, continuing the company’s long-term move away from third-party cellular modems.
If these details hold up, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may end up being remembered not just for faster performance, but for a more streamlined display design—one that shifts Face ID out of sight and brings Apple closer to a truly uninterrupted screen.
