iPhone 18 Pro: Will the Dynamic Island get smaller? Apfelpatient

Apple is apparently testing two versions of the Dynamic Island display for the iPhone 18 Pro. According to a leaker, it's not yet clear whether the display feature will shrink or remain unchanged.

The Dynamic Island has been one of the iPhone's most distinctive design elements since the iPhone 14 Pro. A significantly smaller version has been expected for the iPhone 18 Pro for months – made possible by Face ID components that are partially integrated under the display. However, according to the Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station, this decision is not yet final. Apple is apparently currently testing two variants simultaneously.

Digital Chat Station is the same leaker who already expressed doubts about the shrunken Dynamic Island back in March – at the time, as the only source to contradict the widespread reporting. His latest post on Weibo confirms that both options are still in the running. This leaves the iPhone 18 Pro, five months before its expected launch, at a point where a key design feature remains undecided.

A/B testing at Dynamic Island

According to the leaker, recent feedback from the supply chain suggests an A/B testing scenario: One variant retains the existing display shape, while the other shows a „Mini Dynamic Island” with Face ID receiving components under the display.

Should Apple opt for the mini version, the Dynamic Island would, according to previous reports, be around 35 percent smaller than the iPhone 17 Pro. This would create more usable display area and give the design a more modern look – a move that has been anticipated for several iPhone generations.

If Apple opts for the existing form factor, one of the most striking rumored design upgrades would be eliminated. The iPhone 18 Pro would then be virtually indistinguishable from its predecessor from the front.

Reverse side: Minor material adjustments

In a second article, Digital Chat Station commented on the back of the iPhone 18 Pro. According to them, the rectangular camera platform remains unchanged compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. However, there are said to be minor adjustments to the casing materials and design details.

This likely refers to a correction of the two-tone design criticized on the iPhone 17 Pro: The different surfaces of aluminum and glass are expected to appear more uniform on the iPhone 18 Pro. New color options are also anticipated.

Iterative update instead of redesign

Since Apple introduced a fundamental redesign with the iPhone 17 Pro just last year, another major design leap with the iPhone 18 Pro was unlikely anyway. The current leaks confirm that Apple is focusing on targeted refinements – a strategy Apple has regularly pursued with its Pro models over two to three generations in the past.

The real innovations of the iPhone 18 Pro are expected to be under the hood: the A20 Pro chip built on a 2-nanometer process, an improved camera with a variable aperture, and Apple's own C2 modem chip. Whether a smaller Dynamic Island chip will be included is something Apple will have to decide in the coming weeks – the supply chain needs clarity. (Image: Shutterstock / Tatjana Meininger)