Apple’s rumored smaller Dynamic Island for the iPhone 18 Pro is back in the spotlight after new alleged CAD renders surfaced online, but the latest images still fail to settle the growing confusion around the feature.
An X account called @earlyappleleaks shared a new CAD image this week and claimed it confirms a smaller Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro. CAD renders usually come from factory schematics used by accessory makers, which is why these leaks often attract attention months before an iPhone launch. However, this particular source is still new and does not yet have a strong track record for accurate Apple leaks.
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The image appears to show the same overall iPhone design with slightly reduced cutout space at the top of the display. The leak follows an earlier post from the same account that allegedly showed an iPhone 18 Pro prototype with under-display Face ID components. If Apple moves more Face ID hardware beneath the screen, the company can reduce the size of the Dynamic Island without removing it completely.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and several leakers on Weibo previously claimed Apple plans to shrink the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro models. At the same time, other reports suggest Apple has delayed those changes until the iPhone 19 lineup.
Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station recently claimed the iPhone 18 Pro will keep the current Dynamic Island size unchanged, directly contradicting earlier rumors about a smaller cutout.
That disagreement explains why these latest CAD renders are receiving mixed reactions. CAD images are easy to fake, and there is still no strong evidence confirming Apple finalized a smaller Dynamic Island design for this year’s Pro models.
The confusion also reflects Apple’s long-term direction for the iPhone display. Reports continue to suggest the company wants to gradually hide Face ID sensors and eventually move both the camera and authentication hardware completely under the display for a true all-screen iPhone design.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro lineup alongside its first foldable iPhone later this fall, while the standard iPhone 18 models are rumored to launch separately next year as part of Apple’s new split-release strategy.
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