- A new leak claims iPhone 18 Pro models will add under-screen Face ID while keeping familiar 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes.
- The same tipster says iPhone 18 and the rumored iPhone Air 2 would stick with Dynamic Island and use 120Hz LTPO displays.
- Multiple reports now point to a staggered release strategy, with Pro models expected first and the base iPhone 18 potentially landing later.
A fresh iPhone 18 leak claims Apple’s next Pro iPhones could hide Face ID under the display—finally. The same tip keeps the iPhone 18 Pro at around 6.3 inches and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at around 6.9, while the standard iPhone 18 is still expected to keep a Dynamic Island-style cutout. (MacRumors)
This matters because Face ID isn’t just “a camera.” It’s a full sensor system, and pushing it behind the OLED panel is the kind of change you feel every time you unlock your phone.
It also matters because the iPhone lineup itself may be heading into a weird new rhythm. The Verge, citing The Information, reported Apple has reportedly delayed a second-generation iPhone Air and could pivot fall 2026 to a high-end launch centered on the iPhone 18 Pro models (plus a foldable), with the regular iPhone 18 pushed to spring 2027. (The Verge)
On the screens, leaker Digital Chat Station is now being credited with specific sizes: 6.27 inches for iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro, 6.55 inches for iPhone Air 2, and 6.86 inches for iPhone 18 Pro Max. 9to5Mac says the same post calls for 120Hz LTPO panels across the lineup—LTPO is display tech that can drop refresh rate way down when you’re not scrolling, saving battery. (9to5Mac)
The Pro models are where the front design gets spicy. Tom’s Guide reports the same leaker claims iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max pair under-display Face ID with a punch-hole selfie camera, basically a tiny circular cutout instead of the current “pill” look. (Tom’s Guide)
The less visible leak is the one that could hit hardest: the A20 chip. A supply-chain report cited by AppleInsider suggests Apple’s move to TSMC’s 2nm process could make the A20 dramatically more expensive, with early manufacturing challenges described as a real constraint. If costs jump that much, Apple has to decide where the pain goes—prices, margins, or model segmentation. (AppleInsider)
The timing isn’t random, either. Tom’s Hardware notes TSMC says it has started volume production of its N2 (2nm-class) process, and the company is advertising up to 10–15% higher performance at the same power or 25–30% lower power at the same performance versus N3E. That sort of efficiency is exactly what you want if the next iPhones are expected to do more on-device AI without giving up battery life. (Tom’s Hardware)
Capacity is the catch, and it’s a big one. TrendForce reported Apple is believed to have secured most of TSMC’s initial 2nm capacity for the A20 family, spanning iPhone 18 and a foldable iPhone, which could tighten supply early on. Tight capacity can shape everything from availability to which models get the best chips first. (TrendForce)
Connectivity and camera rumors are piling on top of that. Macworld’s iPhone 18 roundup says Apple is expected to bring its next in-house cellular modem, the C2, to the iPhone 18 line; mmWave (the very fast, very short-range flavor of 5G) is one rumored target. It also points to a potential variable-aperture camera on at least one Pro model—meaning the lens opening can physically adjust to let in more or less light. (Macworld)
Even the camera supply chain is starting to look different. 9to5Mac reports at least some iPhone 18 Pro camera sensors could be produced at a Samsung plant in Austin, Texas, tied to advanced “stacked” sensor techniques, and it notes Apple has historically sourced iPhone image sensors from Sony. If that shifts—even partially—it’s a real change in how Apple builds the most important part of the iPhone for a lot of buyers. (9to5Mac)
There’s still a lot that could go wrong, or just… change. TechRadar has flagged a competing thread of rumors that the iPhone 18 Pro might see minimal external design changes, and that some of the more dramatic cutout talk could be overstated. Early production whispers, prototype variations, and shaky yields at the bleeding edge can all flip the story fast. (TechRadar)
For now, the iPhone 18 leaks are basically a tug-of-war between a cleaner, more “all screen” front and the messy reality of new display tech, new silicon, and new manufacturing ramps. If under-display Face ID keeps showing up from independent directions, that’s the one to watch—because pricing, launch timing, and even what “Dynamic Island” means next all end up orbiting it.
