iPhone 18 Pro series leaks: 6.86-inch OLED panel, hidden Face ID system, more

iPhone 18 Pro series leaks: iPhone 18 Pro is making headlines as it inches closer to a design revolution that could redefine the smartphone landscape. Rumours of a punch-hole camera coupled with under-screen Face ID have electrified discussions as Apple appears ready to move past the Dynamic Island era. 

This shift signals a bold step toward a sleeker, uninterrupted display—a change that tech enthusiasts and visual purists have long awaited. Early leaks suggest that the new layout will blend aesthetic elegance with enhanced functionality, marking a significant evolution in Apple's design philosophy. 

As anticipation builds, all eyes are on how the iPhone 18 Pro will balance cutting-edge innovation with the seamless user experience Apple is known for.

iPhone 18 Pro series expected launch timeline

In 2026, a significant display update is anticipated for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.  

iPhone 18 Pro expected specifications

iPhone 18 Pro will have a 6.27-inch panel | Credit: FreePik

The tipster reveals the specifications of each device's display: the iPhone 18 Pro will have a 6.27-inch panel, while the larger 18 Pro Max will have a 6.86-inch OLED panel. These will be 1.5K resolution LTPO panels. Although the aforementioned seems fairly typical for the iPhone, the tipster also notes that Apple will employ HIAA technology for the selfie camera, pushing the underlying Face ID array beneath the display so that only the selfie camera is visible. 

The present Face ID solution, which Apple has concealed with a Dynamic Island feature that consists of a software bubble in the shape of a capsule that expands and contracts based on the job or Live Activities being displayed, is substantially different from this. For those who are unaware, Dynamic Island isn't actually an "island"; instead, it's made up of two camera cutouts, one oblong (for the Face ID system) and the other circular (for a selfie camera). 

The pixels between them are filled in by a black software layer of the display, giving the impression that the cutouts are neatly enclosed. Since Apple is reportedly moving to Hole-in-Active-Area or HIAA, the user will only be able to see the selfie camera; the Face ID mechanism will be concealed beneath the screen. Many will be relieved to see the black blob disappear, but it will be impressive to see how the Face ID system and its network of flood illuminators and cameras (which use infrared light) operate through the display screen. 

After that, it will be a premium or "Pro" function. It is unclear what will happen to Dynamic Island if this is the implementation that Apple moves forward with for its high-end Pro models next year since the Face ID system—which includes the selfie camera—will be a dot. Given that the hardware has shrunk and no longer needs the cover-up, Apple could certainly animate a phoney capsule-shaped blob around it, but it doesn't seem essential. 

Apple replaced the outdated U-shaped display notch on the top of its iPhone screens with a more contemporary capsule-shaped cavity, but this feature—which combines hardware and software—was not well accepted. With the release of the iPhone 15, the feature—which had previously only been available on its Pro variants—finally made its way onto the other iPhone models. 

According to a tipster, Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series will soon have a new function that could remove the Dynamic Island capsule when not in use, exposing a hole-punch cavity for the front camera that looks a lot like Android. 

For the latest and more interesting tech news, keep reading Indiatimes Tech.