iPhone 18 may feature a slimmer Dynamic Island but no under-screen Face ID

Apple iPhone

Apple’s long-term ambition of creating a true all-screen iPhone could edge closer with the iPhone 18, according to a fresh leak. The upcoming lineup is rumoured to debut a slimmer version of the Dynamic Island, although reports suggest that under-screen Face ID or a front-facing camera are still not on the cards.

Speculation around the Dynamic Island has been ongoing ever since it was introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro. Apple’s interactive cutout replaced the notch and became the focal point for notifications, music playback, and Live Activities. While it has proved useful, many users have been waiting for a more compact design that takes up less display space.

According to a report on Weibo by tipster Instant Digital, the iPhone 18 series will feature a narrower pill-shaped cutout compared to the existing models. A translation of the post notes: “The iPhone 18 series is just a slightly narrower pill, it does not have a single camera, and does not have under-screen Face ID or an under-screen camera.”

This effectively means that while Apple may reduce the footprint of the Dynamic Island, the company is not expected to integrate sensors and cameras under the display just yet. That milestone has been part of industry speculation for several years, but reliable supply chain analysts have suggested that it may not be feasible until at least the iPhone 19 or later.

Instant Digital has a mixed record when it comes to Apple predictions. They correctly revealed details such as the yellow colour variant of the iPhone 14 and the landscape camera orientation on the 2024 iPad Air. However, they have also been inaccurate on other claims, so this particular leak should be treated with caution.

If accurate, the move to a slimmer Dynamic Island would mark the first design change since its debut in 2022. A narrower cutout would result in more usable screen space, especially in the status bar and during Live Activities, where the Island’s size has occasionally been criticised for blocking too much content.

For Apple, even incremental changes such as this would be a step towards reducing visible interruptions on the display. The company has historically preferred gradual transitions, introducing new design elements only when they meet strict performance and quality standards. Until under-display technology matures, a slimmer Dynamic Island could serve as the next step in Apple’s push towards a bezel-free future.