A new rumor claims Apple’s 2026 lineup (iPhone 18) will trim the Dynamic Island to a slightly narrower “pill,” but stop short of moving Face ID or the selfie camera under the display. The claim comes from Weibo leaker Instant Digital and was first picked up by multiple outlets over the weekend.
This contradicts earlier expectations from display analyst Ross Young, who said in May that iPhone 18 Pro models were on track for under-panel Face ID (with only a small hole-punch for the camera), a step toward a true edge-to-edge screen. If Instant Digital’s latest post is accurate, Apple may instead be refining component layouts to make the current cutout smaller — not invisible — in 2026.
What’s being reported
- Smaller Dynamic Island: The pill-shaped cutout could get narrower on all iPhone 18 models.
- No under-display sensors (yet): The latest leak says neither Face ID nor the selfie camera moves under the screen for iPhone 18.
- Conflicting timelines: Earlier industry chatter still points to under-display Face ID — at least on Pro models — sometime in 2026.
A slimmer Island would free up a bit more usable screen without risking the reliability hit that early under-panel cameras have shown on other phones. It also buys Apple time to perfect under-display optics and infrared systems before removing the cutout entirely. For buyers eyeing an all-screen iPhone, the waiting game may continue into (or beyond) the iPhone 18 cycle.
The Dynamic Island debuted on iPhone 14 Pro and spread across the lineup, blending UI with the hardware cutout. Rumors about under-display Face ID have circulated for years, but reports this week suggest Apple may prioritize a smaller, cleaner Island first, then pursue fully hidden sensors later.
