Siri AI was the star of the WWDC 2026 keynote, and it quickly became available to anyone using the iOS 27 beta and passing through the company’s waitlist. Besides a preview of Apple’s long-overdue AI refresh, the new assistant may also feature a hint about a rumored design change for the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro.
Siri AI may have confirmed the smaller Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18
Rumors about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max claim they will be launched in September with practically the same design as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. One of the rumored minor changes is a smaller Dynamic Island, which could shrink as much as 35% compared to before.
Siri AI may have confirmed the change with its unusual design on current iPhones, compared to how the assistant looks on iPad and Mac. While the iOS 27 version shows up in a rather unusual ovular shape, the design on the iPad shows a nice and simple orb.
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Apple designed the new Siri with the iPhone 18 Pro/Max in mind, as with the rumored smaller Dynamic Island it's a perfect orb
That discrepancy has sparked several claims that the orb design will be featured on the iPhone 18 devices, as the smaller Dynamic Island could fit inside the shape. Still, the unusual shape will remain for the wider pill-shaped cutout on current iPhones.
What type of cutout do you prefer on your phone?
Just a step of the journey
Siri AI on iPadOS 27 | Image by 9to5Mac
Rumors about the future of the Dynamic Island have been all over the place over the last months. The initial iPhone 18 Pro rumors claimed that the Face ID would move beneath the screen and the camera would be a cutout on the left side of the display.
That claim was then forgotten and followed by rumors of a smaller Dynamic Island and updated Face ID with a dot illuminator under the screen. This idea was also discarded at one moment, with claims that Apple has faced numerous challenges with the new Face ID tech, forcing it to stick to last year’s design.
However, the most recent leaks put the smaller Dynamic Island back on the table, and we have even seen an image of how it may look compared to the version on the iPhone 17.
Unsurprisingly, Apple fans don’t seem to be very impressed by the rumors. While some Reddit users are quick to point out that even the smaller cutout will be bigger than on most Android phones, others call the change a waste of time. Maybe when everything goes under the display, the reactions will be better.
It feels like an S year
Apple’s iOS 27 is a polished version of iOS 26, and the iPhone 18 Pro feels like a polished version of the iPhone 17 Pro. Considering how good last year’s flagship was, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Still, for many people, it wouldn’t make any sense to pick the new device if it doesn’t have any major upgrades. Whether a smaller Dynamic Island, a hardware upgrade, and a new shiny color are enough remains to be seen.
Incremental updates are not that bad
I don’t expect many iPhone 17 owners to even consider buying an iPhone 18, but for people with years-old devices, the changes should be more than welcome. I’m not particularly bothered by the Dynamic Island, but that Siri AI orb does look nicer than whatever the other shape is.
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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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