The iPhone 18 Pro will reportedly be the first Apple smartphone in years to feature a revamped front. The Dynamic Island hasn't changed since replacing the notch on the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022. A new leak backs up rumors that this year's cutout will be smaller.
Finally
Accessory manufacturers have updated their protectors for the new design. | Image by ShrimpApplePro
Leaker ShrimpApplePro today posted an image of an alleged iPhone 18 Pro privacy glass screen protector. The accessory appears to have a smaller cutout for the Dynamic Island.
We also get a small glimpse of a phone with the privacy filter on the product's packaging, though that's unlikely to be the actual iPhone 18 Pro.
How do you feel about the change?
109 Votes
Needs to be smaller
27.52%
I'll take what I can get
27.52%
Apple should have gone for a pinhole cutout
44.95%
Not that small
The Dynamic Island houses the front camera and Face ID hardware. Face ID is an authentication feature underpinned by the TrueDepth camera system, which uses components such as a flood illuminator, dot projector, and infrared camera to map the geometry of your face.
Apple will apparently tuck the flood illuminator under the screen this year, resulting in a 25% to 35% smaller Dynamic Island. This means the width could drop from 20.06mm on the iPhone 17 Pro to about 13.5mm.
Here's what else will make the iPhone 18 Pro interesting:
While one report said that the iPhone 18 Pro would feature a hole-punch design similar to that of Android handsets, most tipsters agree that a small pill-shaped cutout is all we are getting this year.
Apple will likely move all front-facing sensors beneath the display eventually, but it could be years before we get a full-screen iPhone. While Apple is chasing that goal, the work has proven to be challenging.
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The company will likely gradually advance toward that vision, shipping incremental reductions until the solutions are refined enough for a completely hidden setup.
It's a start
While the smaller cutout will still take up more space than a pinhole, Apple's clever implementation means the shape-shifting hub is more of a feature than a compromise.
And even if alerts and Live Activities don't get you excited, a smaller pill-shaped area will be proof that Apple is trying to make it less of an eyesore.
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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