The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro from Apple could bring one of the most significant visual and technical changes to the iPhone lineup in years. According to the latest leaks from tech insiders, the American tech giant is planning to move core display components, including the selfie camera and Face ID system parts, away from the familiar Dynamic Island area to the top-left corner of the screen. If this comes true, this potential design would mark the first time Apple abandons the long-standing symmetrical screen layout on its products.
Controversial screen design and hidden Face ID technology
According to insights from Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech, this bold change will occur alongside a redesign of the under-display Face ID system. This new technology would allow the iPhone 18 Pro to conceal complex sensor components, such as infrared illuminators, directly beneath the front glass layer, making them nearly invisible to the naked eye. This represents a major step forward in the effort to optimize display area, something users have long anticipated.
We all know the original Dynamic Island, introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro series, cleverly integrated hardware sensors into a flexible software interface that can expand to display system alerts, timers, and background activities. However, moving this cluster to the corner of the screen will pose a completely new challenge for Apple’s UI design team. They will have to find a way to transition similar intelligent interaction levels to a less central position, which is no easy task.
The rumored top-left camera position has immediately ignited heated debates within the tech community, as it evokes older Android phone designs, such as the Google Pixel 5 released in 2020 which used a similar placement. Additionally, some other reports suggest there might be confusion regarding specific details. What Prosser describes as a move to the left might only reflect the relocation of one Face ID component under the screen, while the main selfie camera remains centered. Until Apple officially confirms the design, all interpretations of prototype information remain purely speculative.
iPhone 18 Pro with professional camera upgrades and a changing launch roadmap
Regarding internal specifications, iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be powered by Apple’s latest A20 Pro chip. Reports also indicate that this device may completely replace the Qualcomm modem with an in-house developed C2 modem. This strategic shift would grant Apple full control over cellular performance and allow seamless integration with next-generation 5G networks as well as satellite networks. This feature is mentioned in leaks as “5G via satellite,” similar to the new features recently introduced on the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
However, the photography hardware might be where the most significant upgrades occur. The main camera is rumored to feature a variable aperture lens. This mechanism uses mechanical blades to adjust the opening or narrowing of the lens, thereby controlling the amount of light entering the sensor and allowing for more precise control over exposure and depth of field. This system adds a level of sophistication typically only seen on professional DSLR or mirrorless cameras. Previously, Samsung experimented with variable aperture lenses on the Galaxy S9 and S10 series but ultimately abandoned the idea. It remains unclear whether Apple will bring this technology to all Pro models or reserve it exclusively for the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN2Td45Ln5M
Other refinements may make the device more streamlined. Prosser reports that Apple is simplifying the Camera Control button introduced on recent models. Instead of combining both capacitive touch and force touch inputs, the new design may rely entirely on force touch. While this change would eliminate some swipe gestures, it could provide more tactile and reliable control for both still photography and video recording.
Visually, Apple is reportedly testing new color finishes, including deep burgundy, light brown, and muted purple, continuing the tradition of gradual color updates for Pro models. Notably, there is expected to be no standard iPhone 18 launch this fall. Sources say Apple will delay that version, as well as any successor to the iPhone Air, until 2027 due to slower-than-expected sales of the first iPhone Air generation.
Typically, Apple finalizes hardware designs many months before the September launch, making current leaks an early glimpse at a device still in the refinement stage. It is worth noting that Jon Prosser has had both accurate and inaccurate predictions in the past, such as the incorrect report regarding Apple Watch’s flat-edge design in 2021. However, his track record ensures that every new leak continues to fuel intense speculation surrounding each iPhone launch cycle.
