iPhone 18 Pro: New leaks reveal major improvements to Face ID

The iPhone 18 Pro is the focus of new leaks that suggest a significant change in the front design. According to current information, Apple is testing a Face ID solution located directly under the display. A special microtransparent glass plays a key role in this and demonstrates how far the development of this technology has apparently progressed.

Rumors surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro have been circulating for months, particularly regarding a potential in-display Face ID. New details from the Chinese supply chain provide a clearer picture of the planned implementation. The report suggests that Apple isn't just experimenting, but that suppliers have already entered a more intensive preparation phase. This brings a realistic timeframe for the introduction of this technology within reach.

Face ID under the display

According to the well-known Weibo account Smart Pikachu, Apple is using a so-called spliced microtransparent glass in its tests. This material is integrated directly into the panel and is intended to ensure that the infrared sensors of the TrueDepth system can operate without distortion through the display.

The approach is not fundamentally different from existing methods in the industry. Many manufacturers already use micro-perforated or nanostructured glass to improve IR transmission. However, Apple appears to be adapting the idea to make it stable enough for Face ID, which has significantly higher precision requirements than simple IR sensors.

Information from the supply chain

The report suggests that Apple's work has already prompted suppliers to accelerate their processes. This typically only happens when a technology is no longer just being tested theoretically, but has a concrete chance of mass production. This aligns with the assumption that Face ID in the iPhone 18 Pro could indeed be implemented under the display.

Point of contention: Dynamic Island

Despite these details, one question remains: What will the final front design of the iPhone 18 Pro actually look like?

A report from The Information suggests that the device will no longer have a Dynamic Island at all. Instead, a single, small camera cutout is said to remain in the top left corner of the display. However, other rumors contradict this and assume that a Dynamic Island will still be present.

Display analyst Ross Young suspects that while Apple will move Face ID under the screen, this doesn't automatically mean the end of the Dynamic Island. In his estimation, a pill-shaped cutout will remain, but it will be smaller. Mark Gurman has also mentioned a slimmer Dynamic Island, which could be well combined with a TrueDepth system hidden under the display.

Role of the microtransparent glass window

The new claim about a microtransparent glass window supports the theory of a smaller Dynamic Island. If most of the TrueDepth components operate beneath the display, only the front camera needs to remain visible. This allows the notch to be smaller without affecting Face ID functionality.

Smart Pikachu doesn't explicitly mention the Pro models. However, the term "series" is often used generically in the supply chain when referring to early testing of panels and materials. Previous leaks regarding this technology, however, have almost exclusively concerned the high-end models, making the connection to the iPhone 18 Pro plausible.

Planned market launch

Apple is currently expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro in September 2026. At the same time, a completely new foldable iPhone is expected to be released, leading Apple to plan a split market launch.

The regular iPhone 18 and the more affordable iPhone 18e, on the other hand, are not expected until early 2027. This suggests that the most innovative display technologies, such as the in-display Face ID, could first appear in the iPhone 18 Pro.

The potential design change in the iPhone 18 Pro

The new leaks paint a clear picture of where the iPhone 18 Pro might be headed. Tests with microtransparent glass make under-display Face ID more realistic than ever. At the same time, there are strong indications that the Dynamic Island won't disappear, but will simply become smaller. If these clues are confirmed, the iPhone 18 Pro is poised for one of its biggest visual leaps in years. (Image: Shutterstock / Stockinq)