iPhone 18 Pro Dynamic Island confusion now appears resolved

There’s been considerable confusion about the fate of the iPhone 18 Pro Dynamic Island, with conflicting claims about the position of the selfie camera, the visibility of the Face ID components, and the size and location of the Dynamic Island.

One recent report seemed to leave open the possibility that the upcoming device wouldn’t even need a Dynamic Island, but a reliable source has now stepped in to clarify the position …

iPhone 18 Pro Dynamic Island confusion

We’ve known for a long time that Apple’s eventual goal is to be able to hide both the selfie camera and all of the Face ID components beneath the display so that the screen is completely uninterrupted. This was the vision former Apple design chief Jony Ive referred to as “a single slab of glass.”

We’ve also known that it’s technically easier to hide Face ID than the selfie camera, given Apple’s unwillingness to compromise on photo quality, so we can expect that to happen first.

Some reports have said that the iPhone 18 Pro will take this first step, meaning that we would be left with only a single punch hole for the selfie camera. The Information was one of the sources behind this claim, and the site went further to suggest that the selfie camera would be repositioned to the left side of the display.

YouTuber Jon Prosser echoed this idea and provided a video render showing how it might look with the Dynamic Island opening up from this position. Korean supply chain site ET News also backed the idea of an invisible Face ID module.

I noted that if the reports were true, then technically Apple wouldn’t even need the Dynamic Island anymore, though I very much hoped it would stay, with our editor-in-chief Chance Miller feeling the same way.

But the position now seems clear

Leaker Instant Digital said that these reports were based on a mistranslation. They showed a component image seemingly demonstrating that the selfie camera will remain in the center of the display, and that there will still be a cutout for some of the face ID components – albeit a smaller one.

Now-retired display analyst Ross Young has now weighed in, backing this view.

“Yes this is what I alluded to months ago.”

Young has an excellent track record for reliability in display-related matters.

So here’s what to expect

In summary then, this is what we can expect from the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max:

• The selfie camera will remain in the center of the screen
• There will still be a visible cutout for this and Face ID
• That cutout will be smaller than on current models
• The Dynamic Island feature will remain unchanged

From previous reader comments, this also seems the option that will please the greatest number of people.