Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro is tipped to receive a radical display upgrade over the iPhone 16 Pro … More (pictured)

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At A Glance

  • iPhone 18 Pro tipped to feature single “punch-hole” front camera
  • The new design would replace the current pill-shaped cutout of the Dynamic Island
  • An important step toward a truly full-screen iPhone display.

New Display Tech For iPhone 18 Pro

Apple’s 18 Pro range could feature a radically redesigned screen, by doing away with Apple’s familiar pill-shaped camera cutout and replacing it with a single “punch-hole” for the selfie camera.

According to the well-known leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple may finally be ready to move the iPhone’s Face ID hardware under the screen, meaning it will no longer require its notch in the display. The leaker, who claims knowledge of Apple’s supply chain, revealed in a Weibo post on Monday that Apple is testing under-screen 3D face detection for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models and a rumored new foldable device. According to the report, the standard “ non-Pro” iPhone 18 variants will continue to use the current notch and camera layout.

The iPhone 18 Pro range is tipped to move the Face ID scanner under the screen, replacing the … More current camera notch with a single punch hole. (Translation: Google)

WEIBO / DIGITAL CHAT STATION

The leak corroborates information revealed in a recent report from The Information (paywalled) that also tips under-screen Face ID hardware for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max lineup, as well as the eventual removal of the front camera notch in Apple’s 2027 iPhone range, marking the device’s 20th anniversary.

iPhone 18 Pro: Why Move Face ID Under The Screen?

Punch-hole selfie cameras are already typical on Android devices, which typically rely on fingerprint sensors and 2D visible light cameras for device unlocking. These are notably less secure than Apple’s 3D scanning Face ID technology, but don’t require a second hole or large notch in the display, meaning Android flagships can currently offer a “cleaner” full-screen display than an iPhone.

Removing the Face ID notch would bring the iPhone a vital step closer to a coveted “all screen” display, undisturbed by distracting notches and holes.

Apple has turned the notch into a valuable feature through its innovative “Dynamic Island” function, launched with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, but removing the notch altogether would allow this space to be used as actual display pixels, removing a significant visual distraction while watching full-screen movies or playing games. Apple could, of course, continue to use a version of Dynamic Island software even without the Face ID notch beneath.

iPhone 18 Pro Display — Are The Rumors True This Time?

Apple has filed several related patents over the years that reveal the company’s continued efforts to remove holes and notches from the display. However, these latest rumors claim access to individuals with insider knowledge of the supply chain, increasing the likelihood that Apple’s new display tech is imminent.

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