Once again, the spotlight is on Face ID and the front camera module, which many hope will finally “disappear” from the screen, enabling a truly edge-to-edge experience.

According to a Saturday night post on Weibo by the source Instant Digital, the iPhone 18 is expected to feature a “slightly narrower” Dynamic Island compared to the current generation. In other words, the pill-shaped interface element may take up less space at the top of the screen.

This adjustment is reportedly due to changes in internal components, allowing Apple to reduce the visual footprint of Dynamic Island.

Skipping iPhone 17 Pro: What makes iPhone 18 Pro worth the wait?

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Face ID or the camera will move beneath the display. Instant Digital explicitly stated that the iPhone 18 “will not have under-display Face ID or an under-display camera.”

For years, the tech community has speculated about Apple implementing Face ID or a selfie camera beneath the screen. Such a move would mark the final step in eliminating screen cutouts, achieving a seamless display.

In theory, placing the camera and TrueDepth sensors under the display would remove the need for notches or Dynamic Island altogether. But in practice, it’s a major technical hurdle: the sensors must function from behind the pixels, and the display layer itself can interfere with the light and data they need to capture.

As a result, Apple has continued to use cutouts to ensure the sensors have a clear “field of view.”

Expectations vs. reality

Despite the technical limitations, rumors of under-display Face ID persist. In May, Ross Young, a reputable analyst from Counterpoint Research (formerly Display Supply Chain Consultants), predicted that under-display Face ID could debut in 2026, though the selfie camera would still require further development.

At the same time, another Weibo source, Digital Chat Station, claimed that iPhone 18 Pro would feature under-display Face ID. They later doubled down, stating that the technology would become more refined and be implemented on iPhone 19 in 2027.

In June, the same source reiterated their prediction, suggesting iPhone 18 might combine under-display Face ID with a punch-hole front camera.

Within the tech community, Weibo leaks are often met with skepticism due to their inconsistent accuracy. Many simply repeat unverified claims to attract followers. However, Instant Digital is considered more reliable than most, particularly for camera-related feature leaks such as Camera Control.

Even so, it’s still too early to confirm whether Apple will adopt under-display Face ID for the iPhone 18. Historically, the company only introduces major changes once the technology is fully mature and ensures a smooth user experience.

Clearly, consumers are increasingly expecting an uninterrupted iPhone display, free of Dynamic Island or visible camera cutouts.

But for now, leaked details remain contradictory. The iPhone 18 might simply offer a sleeker, more compact Dynamic Island rather than a revolutionary leap to under-display biometrics.

If Ross Young’s projections prove accurate, we may not see under-display Face ID until 2026 or even 2027.

Until then, the iPhone 18 will likely retain Dynamic Island - albeit in a more refined form with a smaller screen footprint.

Hai Phong