iPhone 18 Screen Might Improve, But Not Perfect

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Since Apple replaced the traditional notch at the top of iPhones with the pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout, many have speculated that the company is moving toward an entirely full-screen design. However, it appears that this shift will not happen immediately, at least not for the upcoming iPhone 18. There’s a good chance that next year’s model will feature a narrower version of the Dynamic Island, though it will still retain some visible elements.

According to trusted leaks from Digital Chat Station, the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 could become thinner in the future. Sharing their insights on the Chinese social platform Weibo, the source also notes that Apple is unlikely to fully hide the camera and Face ID sensors beneath the display, so they will still be visible but less prominent.

So far, several Android manufacturers have managed to achieve a nearly bezel-less look by implementing under-display cameras. Samsung briefly experimented with this approach but abandoned it, and smaller players like China’s Red Magic continue to explore the technology, despite some impact on image quality caused by the under-display sensors.

For Apple, integrating the under-display camera is more complex because the Dynamic Island system includes multiple components: an RGB sensor, infrared camera, dot projector, and flood illuminator. The challenge lies in how a layer of glass might affect the accuracy and reliability of biometric authentication, and it’s not a straightforward transition.

There’s also speculation about whether Apple is waiting for its special iPhone anniversary release. Some reports suggest that the company might introduce under-display Face ID and sensor technology in an upcoming flagship, possibly arriving with the next big anniversary model. Early indications hint at a shift toward a completely uninterrupted screen without the pill-shaped cutout, possibly arriving as early as 2026.

However, the upcoming iPhone 18, scheduled for release next year, is not expected to feature the all-invisible Dynamic Island. Instead, sources suggest that this feature will be reserved for the highly anticipated anniversary edition, which is rumored to include a full-glass screen design. In the meantime, Apple has already adjusted the position of the Dynamic Island on the iPhone Air, and a slimmer module appears to be on the horizon for next year.