Apple is reportedly testing a major visual shift for the iPhone 18 Pro line, with Face ID potentially moving under the display and the Dynamic Island shrinking dramatically or disappearing altogether. The latest buzz comes from a Forbes report that cites well-known Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station, who says Apple is already running front-display design tests for the next Pro models.
The core idea is simple, but the impact could be huge. If Apple manages to hide the Face ID system beneath the screen, the front of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could look far cleaner than today’s Pro models.
Apple is testing multiple front-display layouts
According to the leak, Apple is not committing to a single design yet. Instead, the company is said to be running A/B-style tests for different front-panel options, including one familiar layout and another that places Face ID-related components more discreetly behind the display.
That approach suggests Apple is exploring how much of the visible cutout area can be reduced without affecting the reliability of facial authentication.
Dynamic Island could become much smaller
The most visible change from this testing would likely be the fate of the Dynamic Island. Since the feature currently defines the upper part of recent iPhone screens, any shrinkage would be immediately noticeable.
If the test design moves forward, the top of the display could appear far less interrupted, pushing Apple closer to the full-screen look that many smartphone makers have chased for years.
Face ID under the screen is the bigger story
The most important rumor is not only about appearance, but also about function. Face ID is being considered as the main candidate to move below the panel, which would hide the sensor system from view almost entirely.
That would mark a significant step for Apple, because the company has long relied on visible front sensors as part of its biometric setup. If successful, the iPhone 18 Pro could keep Face ID intact while making the front of the device look far more seamless.
What the current leak points to
- Apple is testing several front-screen design variations.
- Dynamic Island may be reduced or removed.
- Face ID is the main feature being considered for under-display placement.
- The design is still in testing and is not final.
- A final decision may come within the next few months.
A broader redesign is also being discussed
The same information set also points to refinements on the back of the device. Apple is said to be keeping the rectangular plateau-style camera module first introduced on the iPhone 17 Pro, while making smaller adjustments to the materials and surface details.
The goal appears to be consistency, with a unibody aluminum frame and a glass section for wireless charging designed to look more unified. That would allow Apple to preserve the premium feel of the Pro line while tightening the overall visual language.
A separate report also suggests the price range may remain in premium territory, starting from Rp18 million to Rp25 million. If Apple follows through on the under-display Face ID direction, the iPhone 18 Pro series could represent one of the company’s most noticeable front-design changes since the move from the notch to the Dynamic Island.
