New leaks add weight to rumors of a slimmer Dynamic Island on iPhone 18

By Shikhar Mehrotra Published March 30, 2026

Apple’s pill-shaped front camera cutout, dubbed Dynamic Island, has been a talking point ever since it replaced the notch on the iPhone 14 Pro. Even the latest iPhones embrace the clever hardware and software implementation that is half genius and half cover-up for a larger cutout that houses the Face ID sensors. 

However, according to fresh evidence from two different sources no less, the iPhone 18 Pro could feature a thinner Dynamic Island. The first comes from an X account called @earlyappleleaks, which shared a picture of what appears to be a prototype unit.

With a flashlight shining on the display’s corner, a small circular punch hole is visible beneath the screen, strongly suggesting that Apple is moving the Face ID sensor under the display. 

Separately, well-regarded tipster Ice Universe — who has a solid track record — posted images of alleged iPhone 18 Pro screen protectors. The cutouts on those protectors look dramatically smaller than those on the current models. Chinese social media has since lit up with similar images of accessories, further crediting the rumor. 

Leaker Majin Bu, citing the increasing number of leaks, claims the Dynamic Island shrinks by approximately 35% when compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. That’s not a subtle change. In my opinion, that qualifies as a redesign. 

A couple of days ago, Ice Universe also claimed that the new Dynamic Island design will be available on three iPhone 18 models, including the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the vanilla iPhone 18. The bezels, however, might remain unchanged. 

Given the rumors about Apple’s phased rollout strategy, in which the iPhone 18 Pro models break cover in September 2026 (along with the first foldable iPhone), and the iPhone 18 arrives in early 2027, the rumor seems all the more likely to me. 

It’s important to note that not every source or report agrees with the arrival of the new Dynamic Island across the entire iPhone 18 lineup. In fact, some even disagree with the idea that this change will arrive in this upgrade cycle.