New under-screen sensor technology should reduce iPhone 18 Pro’s Dynamic Island by 35%
Recent information originating from the Apple supply chain points to a significant visual change in the brand’s future premium models. The expectation is that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a considerably smaller
The main reason for this change is the advancement in under-screen sensor technology, a field that Apple has been cautiously exploring. By being able to move one of the essential components of the Face ID system under the OLED panel, the company would free up physical space in the visible cutout, optimizing the useful viewing area for the user.
This modification, scheduled for the 2026 generation, should not change the main functionality of the Dynamic Island. The feature, which integrates notifications and real-time activities into the cutout, will continue to work interactively, but occupies a smaller and more discreet area at the top of the display.
Advances in sensor technology
The technical feasibility for reducing clipping is directly linked to the repositioning of the infrared flood illuminator, one of the crucial elements of the Face ID. Este component, responsible for projecting infrared light to map the user’s face in low-light environments, would be the first to be integrated under the display layer. Essa engineering maneuver allows it to shrink the pill shape without compromising the security or speed of facial recognition, a priority for Apple. The company has invested years in research and development to ensure the transition does not affect performance, extensively testing light transmission through the OLED panel’s pixels to maintain the accuracy of the biometric system.
While the flood illuminator is hidden, other important sensors like the front camera and dot projector will remain visible within the new, narrower cutout. Essa hybrid approach represents a gradual and safe transition towards a future with a completely disruption-free screen. Collaboration with panel suppliers is key to refining this technology, ensuring that the display area above the hidden sensor does not exhibit color or brightness distortions, a technical challenge that other manufacturers have faced in early implementations of under-screen cameras. The Apple seeks a quality standard that makes the presence of the sensor imperceptible during normal use of the device.
More on this story: Leaked Apple roadmap reveals iPhone 18 Pro with Face ID under the screen and a much smaller Dynamic Island
Continuous evolution of front design
The design trajectory of Apple demonstrates a constant search for a more immersive experience. Tudo started with the prominent notch introduced on the iPhone X, a solution that housed the complex technology of the Face ID, but which took up a considerable portion of the screen. For several generations, this cutout became a trademark, although the subject of debate among users.
The big leap occurred with the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro, which replaced the notch with the Dynamic Island. Mais than just a smaller pill-shaped cutout, the Apple has transformed it into an integral and functional part of the iOS interface, displaying alerts, music controls and live activities in a smart and interactive way.
Now, the planned reduction for the iPhone 18 Pro represents the next logical phase of this evolution. Trata features a refinement that maintains the functional identity of the Dynamic Island, while meeting consumers’ desire for a screen with maximum usability and minimum visual obstructions.
Direct impact on the user experience
The reduction of approximately 35% in the size of Dynamic Island will bring practical and noticeable benefits in everyday life. The main one is the gain in vertical space on the screen, an especially notable advantage when consuming content in full screen. Assistir to videos, series or films will become a more immersive experience, with clipping being an even smaller distraction. Da Likewise, in games, the expanded useful area will allow a wider view of the field of action, without interface elements being overlapped or hidden by the dynamic island. Para general navigation, reading articles and using productivity applications, this optimization translates into more visible lines of text and a feeling of greater amplitude on the display. Apple understands that every millimeter of screen recovered contributes to a more comfortable and pleasant interaction, reinforcing the perception that the Pro models offer the best display technology available in the brand’s ecosystem, aligning improved aesthetics with functionality already consolidated and approved by users.
On the same topic: Face ID technology under the iPhone 18 Pro screen could drastically reduce the Dynamic Island cutout
Specific dimensions revealed
Leaks attributed to sources with a history of success, such as the profile known as Ice Universe, provided concrete measurements of the change. The width of the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro models should increase from the current 20.76 millimeters to around 13.49 millimeters.
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This reduction of more than 7 millimeters is substantial and will be immediately noticed by any user familiar with current models. The height of the cutout, however, must remain similar, maintaining the elongated pill shape, but visibly more compact and symmetrical.
Face ID security and performance
One of the main concerns with any change to the front sensor array is the impact on the performance of the Face ID. The Apple ensures, through its design, that the reliability and speed of the facial recognition system will not be affected by the new configuration.
By keeping the dot projector and front camera in the visible cutout, the accuracy of 3D face mapping is preserved. The component moved below the screen, the infrared illuminator, acts as an aid in low light conditions, and current technology already allows it to fulfill its function effectively even through the OLED panel.
Apple strategy against the competition
While several manufacturers in the Android ecosystem have been offering smartphones with front cameras completely hidden under the screen for a few years, Apple adopts a notably more conservative stance. The company has historically prioritized the maturity and reliability of a technology before implementing it in its core products.
Learn more: New iPhone 18 Pro design hides Face ID under the display and optimizes Dynamic Island for more screen
Under-screen camera solutions seen on the market often have compromises, such as a slight loss in selfie quality or a display area above the camera that is noticeably different from the rest of the panel.
Apple’s approach with the iPhone 18 Pro, moving just one auxiliary component, serves as an intermediate step. Permite that the company advance its design roadmap and refine under-display integration technology in a lower-risk scenario.
This gradual strategy signals that an iPhone with a truly full screen, without any type of visible cutout, is still a few generations away, awaiting the time when the technology can be implemented without sacrificing the quality of the front camera or the security of the Face ID.
Expectations for the launch
Following its traditional schedule, Apple is expected to officially announce the iPhone 18 line at its special event in September 2026. The reduction of the Dynamic Island will, without a doubt, be one of the main marketing highlights for the Pro models, clearly differentiating them from the standard versions of the same line.
