TECH NEWS – They could use an LTPO panel with a circular cutout so that the Cupertino-based company can abandon the “pill” design.
Apple hasn’t even announced the iPhone 17 lineup yet, but there are already rumors swirling about the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, expected next fall. According to a leaker, Apple will retire the pill-shaped cutout on the front in favor of a circular hole, which will likely expand into the Dynamic Island. This change clearly signals that the tech giant is planning a significant update to Face ID.
A rumor on Weibo claims the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have display sizes of 6.27” (15.92 cm) and 6.86” (17.42 cm), respectively. Both will feature Apple’s ProMotion technology, thanks to LTPO OLED panels, supporting variable refresh rates from 1 Hz to 120 Hz for better battery life and super-smooth scrolling. However, Apple is set to change the front cutout that’s been a mainstay for years.
The company is said to be switching to a punch-hole cutout, similar to what Samsung uses. This design shift should give the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max a higher screen-to-body ratio, with Face ID hardware like infrared emitters and the dot projector hidden beneath the OLED display. Apple has reportedly been testing these changes for years, but hasn’t rushed to roll them out, which explains why the old design stuck around. But how accurate will Face ID be if it’s under the screen? Previous under-panel cameras have seen a noticeable drop in image quality, so it remains to be seen how Apple will handle this trade-off.
Apple could introduce this true “all-screen” design with the iPhone 19, which will coincide with the lineup’s 20th anniversary. The Pro models will apparently use a single pane of glass. If Apple faces any quality issues (less accurate Face ID, worse selfies), the company could still scrap the idea altogether.
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