Rumors around the Apple iPhone 18 Pro design have been all over the place for months. Some claims pointed to a punch-hole cutout shifted to the top-left corner, while others suggested Apple would keep the front looking nearly identical to the iPhone 17 Pro. One point most leaks have agreed on, though, is that Apple still isn’t ready to fully hide the front camera and the sensors needed for secure 3D Face ID under the AMOLED display.
Now, a fresh set of leaked photos is adding weight to a more believable middle-ground: Apple may manage to place at least some of the Face ID sensor hardware beneath the display, shrinking the size of the visible cutout rather than eliminating it entirely. The images, said to show a screen protector designed for the iPhone 18 Pro, feature a noticeably smaller opening for the Dynamic Island area.
According to the details shared alongside the leak, Apple could reduce the Dynamic Island width from about 20.76 mm to roughly 13.49 mm. If accurate, that’s close to a one-third reduction in size, which would be a meaningful visual change even if the overall design language stays familiar.
A smaller Dynamic Island isn’t just about looks. With less of the display blocked, more content remains visible—whether you’re watching a video, reading, gaming, or scrolling through apps. It could also improve the Dynamic Island experience itself. Apple uses the space around the cutout for Live Activities like navigation directions, timers, ride updates, and music playback. With extra usable pixels available, those mini interface elements could potentially show more information at once and feel less cramped.
The leak also suggests Apple may keep this smaller Dynamic Island as a Pro-exclusive feature. In other words, iPhone 18 Pro models would get the reduced cutout, while the standard iPhone 18 could continue using the wider Dynamic Island opening. On top of that, the timing being discussed points to a staggered release strategy: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected first, alongside Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone, while the more affordable iPhone 18 may arrive later—potentially in spring 2027.
Of course, until Apple makes anything official, these details should be taken as informed speculation. Still, a smaller Dynamic Island fits neatly with Apple’s usual approach: gradually reducing visible hardware over multiple generations while improving the experience step by step, rather than betting everything on a single dramatic redesign.
