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iPhone 18 Pro expected to have under-display Face ID
Physical Face ID sensors may be hidden beneath the screen
Dynamic Island might continue as a software-based feature
Enhanced immersive display with fewer screen interruptions
Apple is said to be planning to pull off a major design switch with the iPhone 18 Pro, set to come out in 2026. Based on various leaks and industry sources, the company might finally place Face ID sensors beneath the screen.
This would make it possible to do away with the pill-shaped notch that resides at the top of the screen. It’s a move that might take Apple one step further toward an actually uninterrupted, all-screen iPhone.
The move to under-display Face ID is a milestone on Apple’s gradual and incremental path toward minimalism. When Apple debuted the notch with the iPhone X in 2017, it was required to accommodate the complicated TrueDepth camera system employed for Face ID. Year by year, the company has attempted to minimize this intrusion. Initially with the smaller notch on the iPhone 13 series, then the pill cutout and Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro.
The technology to bring this about has become mature enough to be acceptable to Apple’s high standards of quality. This encompasses the capability to scan true 3D facial information through the screen, without sacrificing speed or security. If successful, this breakthrough would probably establish a new standard for smartphone biometrics.
The likely loss of the physical pill cutout raises questions about the future of the Dynamic Island. This feature was presented both as a workaround and an innovation. Debuted with the iPhone 14 Pro, Dynamic Island transformed what could have been a distraction into a functional and interactive display space. It offers real-time information for items like calls, timers, music, navigation, and even sporting events.
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Alternatively, Apple might choose to retire the Dynamic Island entirely. Apple has a history of abandoning features when they’re no longer serving a distinct purpose, even if they’re well-liked. If a simpler display is seen as an improvement on the user experience, Apple might opt to eliminate the feature and simplify the interface.
For consumers, this shift would have both aesthetic and functional advantages. The under-display Face ID will make watching videos, playing games, or navigating apps a more immersive experience. The lack of any permanent notch might also make the phone seem and feel sleeker.
User experience can also be enhanced. Faster Face ID operation, greater durability through fewer screen openings, and a generally smoother-looking interface are all possibilities. If Apple also streamlines the appearance of the digital Dynamic Island, it might bring together form and function in very good harmony.
Srinivas Rao, a technology consultant, praised these developments. He said, “Apple’s move to under-display Face ID is a significant step forward. It not only improves the phone’s aesthetics but also enhances usability and durability. Combining this with a refined Dynamic Island experience shows Apple’s focus on blending design innovation with practical benefits for users.”
Apple’s move to place Face ID below the screen may also have ripple effects across the smartphone market. While Samsung, Oppo, and Xiaomi have all tried out under-screen camera technology, Apple’s addition to the market generally means that the technology has arrived at mass-market viability.
As has happened in the past with innovations such as fingerprint readers, notches, and USB-C, Apple’s decisions tend to set a precedent. If under-display biometrics become the norm, the competition will follow, driving the market toward more enveloping screens at every level.
Under-display Face ID is only one part of Apple’s long-term vision. Insiders think the company is also developing an under-display front camera. This, though, is a larger technical hurdle. Image quality, color accuracy, and low-light capture are hard to preserve when a camera is capturing through a layer of pixels.
Yet, the company is getting there. If Apple can finally break that barrier, the iPhone might one day become a completely screen-interruption-free device. It’s a dream Apple has been pursuing for years, one that speaks to its fundamental design ethos of simplicity and refinement.
The iPhone 18 Pro, if rumors are correct, will be a milestone moment in Apple's design history. By concealing Face ID beneath the screen, Apple is getting closer to achieving the holy grail of edge-to-edge screens. Whether or not Dynamic Island makes it into software form, the larger message is one of significance: Apple is not finished pushing boundaries.
For consumers and competitors both, it’s a sign that the new era of smartphone design is on the horizon. And as is often the case, Apple is taking the lead.
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