SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 26, 2026, 03:50 PST
- Leaks point to a narrower Dynamic Island cutout on iPhone 18 Pro models
- Supply-chain reporting has tied the redesign to a newer OLED panel and under-display Face ID components
- Apple shares dipped slightly in premarket trade
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro models could get a slimmer “Dynamic Island” — the pill-shaped cutout and software hub at the top of the screen — as a new leak points to a narrower opening for the selfie camera and Face ID sensors. Apple shares were down about 0.2% in premarket trade. (Forbes)
The chatter matters because Apple has been moving cautiously toward a cleaner, more immersive display without dropping Face ID, its facial-recognition login system. Shrinking the visible cutout would be the most obvious front-design change in years, and one that Apple could sell as progress toward an all-screen iPhone.
The latest reports also show how easily the rumor chain can twist: a smaller centered cutout is back in focus after earlier claims that Apple would shift the front camera to the top-left in a punch-hole design. Some mock-ups even showed the cutout off-center, a detail others said could be an early schematic quirk rather than Apple’s final intent. (VietNamNet News)
Gizmochina, citing leaker yeux1122, said Apple may move an infrared sensor beneath the AMOLED panel — a type of OLED display — allowing the visible cutout to shrink. It said the Dynamic Island could narrow to about 13.49 mm from roughly 20.76 mm on the iPhone 17 Pro, while staying centered and roughly the same height. (Gizmochina)
A separate supply-chain report flagged a possible technology change behind the scenes. ChannelNews, citing South Korea’s ETNews, said the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could debut LTPO-plus OLED panels — a more power-efficient display backplane — which could also enable placing an infrared sensor used for Face ID under the screen; it said Samsung Display and LG Display were the only makers able to produce the panels at scale, potentially sidelining China’s BOE on Pro models, and it also pointed to a redesigned M6 MacBook Pro adopting the same panel. (ChannelNews)
AppleInsider has separately reported that Apple’s base iPhone 18 could be pushed to early 2027, leaving the Pro models as Apple’s main iPhone launch for September 2026. The site also pointed to expected internal upgrades such as a new A20 chip and more memory, though Apple has not announced any changes to its schedule. (AppleInsider)
Ross Young, a retired display analyst cited by 9to5Mac, backed an explanation for why the Dynamic Island might shrink rather than disappear, writing: “Yes this is what I alluded to months ago.” The report said only some Face ID components may move under the display, while the selfie camera and other hardware remain in a reduced, centered cutout that still supports the Dynamic Island interface. (9to5Mac)
Rivals such as Samsung have long used small punch-hole cameras on flagship phones, and some foldables hide cameras under the screen, often with trade-offs. Apple has leaned on the Dynamic Island to make the cutout feel like a feature rather than an eyesore.
The biggest unknown is performance: under-display cameras can look hazy because light must pass through OLED layers, and moving Face ID hardware under the screen can also weaken infrared signals, especially in low light, reviewers have warned. The iPhone 18 Pro remains unannounced, and Apple can still change component layouts as it moves through testing and production. (Tom’s Guide)
For now, the leak cycle is pointing to a smaller, not vanished, Dynamic Island on the next Pro iPhones. Apple has not commented on the reports.
