Major Design Overhaul for iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
Apple is reportedly gearing up for a significant design change with the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, expected to launch within the next year. According to a recent report from The Information, the familiar pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout will be replaced by a punch-hole selfie camera positioned in the top-left corner of the display. This shift marks a notable departure from the design language Apple has used since the iPhone 14 Pro series.
In addition to the new front camera placement, the iPhone 18 Pro is said to incorporate an under-display Face ID system, allowing for a cleaner front panel without compromising biometric security. Despite these changes, the overall design is expected to retain similarities to the current iPhone 17 Pro in other respects.
Key Specifications and Features
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are anticipated to maintain the display sizes introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro series, featuring 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screens respectively. Internally, Apple is reportedly planning to equip these models with the new A20 Pro SoC, manufactured using TSMC’s advanced 2nm process node. This chip will utilise CoWoS (Chip on Wafer on Substrate) packaging technology to enhance integration between the processor, unified memory, and neural engine, promising improved performance and efficiency.
On the connectivity front, the devices are expected to feature Apple’s in-house C2 modem, paired with the N1 networking chip. This marks an upgrade over the iPhone 17e, which is believed to use the C1-series modem without the N1 chip. Camera technology is also set to advance, with the Pro models incorporating a three-layer, stacked image sensor and a stainless steel vapor chamber for better heat dissipation. Additionally, Apple may remove the capacitive induction layer from the camera control button, retaining only a pressure-sensing layer for tactile feedback.
Context and Previous Leaks
These revelations align with earlier rumours from well-known Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station, who shared on Weibo that Apple is experimenting with a “special HIAA hole-punching solution” for the front camera. This corroborates the shift away from the Dynamic Island design towards a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera on the iPhone 18 Pro series.
Apple is also reportedly testing new colour options for the iPhone 18 Pro, with shades such as brown, purple, or burgundy potentially joining the lineup. Such colour expansions could offer consumers more personalisation choices compared to previous models.
What to Expect Next
As Apple moves closer to the expected unveiling of the iPhone 18 series, more details around the devices’ design and features will undoubtedly surface. However, it’s worth noting that similar reports about under-display Face ID and changes to the Dynamic Island have surfaced in earlier development cycles, only for Apple to ultimately stick with its existing design at launch. Because of this, while the idea of a punch-hole camera and fully hidden Face ID is intriguing, it still feels unlikely to arrive with the iPhone 18 Pro models at this stage.
The upgraded chipset and modem remain far more certain, promising meaningful gains in performance and connectivity regardless of the final design choices. As always, industry watchers will be paying close attention to see whether Apple is ready to make such a visible design leap, or whether these technologies are being quietly refined for future iPhone generations instead.
Overall, while the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are shaping up to deliver notable hardware improvements, the more radical design changes may ultimately be held back for a later release, in line with Apple’s typically cautious approach to major front-facing redesigns.