Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro may introduce one of the most meaningful display design changes in years, according to a growing number of supply-chain leaks, analyst reports, and early design renders circulating in the tech industry.
The company has not confirmed any details about the device, which is expected to launch in September 2026, but multiple independent sources suggest Apple is moving closer to its long-term goal of creating a nearly edge-to-edge iPhone display with minimal visible sensors.
Under-display Face ID emerges as key design shift
One of the most consistent claims across recent leaks is Apple’s plan to move Face ID components beneath the display in the iPhone 18 Pro models.
A January report from MacRumors, citing display-industry sources, said Apple is testing under-screen facial-recognition hardware for its 2026 Pro lineup. Similar claims were previously reported by The Information and display analyst Ross Young, who has accurately predicted Apple display changes in the past.
If implemented, this would allow Apple to significantly reduce the size of the Dynamic Island cutout, which currently houses Face ID sensors and the front camera.
A separate leak reported by Forbes suggests the visible display cutout could shrink noticeably, potentially becoming the smallest front-sensor area on an iPhone since the notch was introduced in 2017.
Front camera placement could change
A new design leak reported by Gizchina claims Apple may reposition the front-facing camera to the top-left corner of the display, replacing the centered pill-style cutout used in recent Pro models.
Leaked renders and a short concept video shared across the smartphone-leak community and highlighted by TechRadar suggest the change could create a cleaner front-screen appearance while preserving Apple’s existing Face ID system.
However, not all reports agree that the change will be dramatic.
According to Tom’s Guide, citing well-known smartphone leakers, the overall design of the iPhone 18 Pro may remain largely similar to the iPhone 17 Pro, with Apple focusing on internal engineering improvements rather than a full exterior redesign.
Camera hardware upgrades also rumored
Alongside display changes, Apple is reportedly testing new camera technologies for the iPhone 18 Pro.
A report from India Today, citing industry leaks, says Apple may introduce a stacked camera sensor designed to improve low-light photography and dynamic range.
Other leaks aggregated by Smartphones24 and PhoneArena suggest Apple could add a variable-aperture main camera, allowing the device to mechanically adjust how much light enters the lens. The feature is already used in some professional cameras and select flagship Android phones.
If introduced, it would represent one of Apple’s most advanced camera hardware upgrades in recent years.
Apple continues incremental design strategy
Despite the rumors of display and camera upgrades, several reports indicate Apple is likely to maintain the overall industrial design language introduced in recent Pro models.
This would mirror Apple’s recent product strategy of focusing on chip performance, imaging systems, and display technology improvements rather than dramatic external redesigns every year.
The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to include Apple’s next-generation A20 Pro chip, likely manufactured using a more advanced semiconductor process, according to multiple industry reports compiled by Tom’s Guide and PhoneArena.
Still early in the product cycle
As with most Apple hardware leaks, the final design could change before production begins. Apple typically finalizes major hardware decisions several months before launch.
For now, the emerging picture from supply-chain reports, analyst commentary, and leaked renders suggests the iPhone 18 Pro may focus on display refinement, under-screen biometric technology, and camera flexibility, rather than a radical redesign.
If the leaks prove accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro could represent Apple’s most significant step yet toward a true all-screen iPhone.
Apple is expected to announce the device alongside the broader iPhone 18 lineup in fall 2026.
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