New CAD renders of the iPhone 18 Pro have surfaced online, reigniting the debate about the fate of the Dynamic Island. If the leak is accurate, the cutout for the front camera and sensors will become noticeably smaller, but it doesn’t seem to be going fully under the display just yet. Below are the latest details on who to trust and whether it’s worth waiting until fall 2026.
This is what the new island on the iPhone will look like
How the iPhone 18 Pro Front Panel Will Change According to New Renders
The source of the images is an X user with the handle @earlyappleleaks, who claims the new CAD confirms a smaller Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro. CAD renders themselves are technical schematics that Apple provides to case and accessory manufacturers several months before release so they can prepare their products in time.
This is what the smaller Dynamic Island will look like on the new iPhones
An important caveat: it’s currently impossible to verify the authenticity of this particular leak. The author is a newcomer to this field and doesn’t yet have the reputation by which insiders are typically judged for reliability. Previously, he published an image of a supposed iPhone 18 Pro prototype with a smaller Dynamic Island and what appeared to be an under-display Face ID sensor — it’s precisely the under-screen Face ID components that would make it possible to shrink the “island.”
Dynamic Island on iPhone 18 Pro: Shrink or Remove Entirely
Over the past year, rumors on this topic have diverged. Initially, there was talk that the iPhone 18 Pro might lose the Dynamic Island altogether and get only a small camera hole with Face ID under the screen. Now the picture is different: several major insiders, including Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, are leaning toward a compromise option — the “island” will be reduced but not removed.
The island will become much narrower
There’s also an opposing view. Chinese insider Digital Chat Station recently stated that the iPhone 18 Pro won’t get a smaller Dynamic Island at all, and the reduction will be pushed to the iPhone 19.
There’s also a sobering precedent: last year, the iPhone 17 Pro was also rumored to have a smaller Dynamic Island, but it ultimately shipped with the same cutout as before. So current leaks should be taken calmly — the final design can still change before the announcement.
Under-Display Face ID on iPhone 18 Pro: What’s Moving and What Stays
The main technical question surrounding the design is where the Face ID components will go. Rumors about under-display Face ID and the removal of Dynamic Island were actively circulating in early 2025 but then quieted down. There are two possible explanations: either Apple considered this technology for the 18 Pro lineup but postponed it, or the early leaks were inaccurate. Confusion is also possible: some sensors may go under the display while others remain visible, which would explain the contradictory descriptions.
For users, this means a simple thing: a radical “bezel-free” front in 2026 is most likely not coming. At best — a more compact pill-shaped Dynamic Island that takes up less space below the status bar.
When the iPhone 18 Pro and the New Foldable iPhone Will Launch
Apple is changing its usual release schedule. According to current information, the iPhone 18 Pro will be unveiled in the fall — alongside the first foldable iPhone. Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 18 will move to the beginning of the following year: the company is spacing out releases over time. This means the fall presentation will be dedicated to the Pro lineup and the foldable, while the base model will have to wait until spring.
iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and Ultra will arrive in September
In brief, here are the timelines:
- iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max — fall 2026
- First foldable iPhone — also fall 2026
- Standard iPhone 18 — early 2027
All the design details, including the fate of the Dynamic Island, will be revealed at the fall presentation, which is just a few months away.
Should You Wait for iPhone 18 Pro or Buy iPhone 17 Pro Now
The short answer depends on how important the front panel design is to you.
- If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or newer and are satisfied with the current Dynamic Island — there’s definitely no rush. The changes being discussed are cosmetic.
- If you want to upgrade right now and need a stable, proven device — the iPhone 17 Pro remains a sensible choice: the smaller “island” never materialized, but everything else about the model is solid.
- If you fundamentally want the freshest design and are willing to wait until fall — it makes sense to wait for the iPhone 18 Pro announcement and then decide whether the smaller pill justifies the premium for the new generation.
The main takeaway — don’t treat the current CAD renders as the final truth. This is an early leak from a new source, and as last year’s case with the iPhone 17 Pro showed, there can be a big difference between “a schematic was leaked” and “this is exactly how it will ship.”
