Last month, reports surfaced via multiple industry sources about the iPhone 18 Pro models featuring a die-cut camera cutout (top left of the screen). Most recently, Front Page Tech’s YouTube video even published renders of the alleged iPhones with a hole-punch cutout on the front.
However, Chinese tipster Instant Digital (via @LeakerApple) seems to have refuted the presence of a punch-hole camera in the iPhone 18 Pro models. According to the tipster, the claim is “complete misinformation (translated from Chinese).”
A translation error triggered the perforated iPhone narrative
Apparently the misjudgment stems from an “English-language media outlet on Twitter” that mistranslated the Chinese and Korean reports about relocating a Face ID component (infrared floodlight) to the top left corner of the screen as a hole-punch camera.
The tipster once again points out that the iPhone 18 Pro models could feature an infrared floodlight under the display in the top left. Other components of the Face ID module, including the dot projector and the front camera, are located in the center.
So instead of a punch-hole front display, the iPhone 18 Pro could retain the Dynamic Island, but it would be smaller than newer models. This reminds me of the first rumors about the Pro models, which claimed that a thinner and smaller Dynamic Island could be on the cards.
Ross Young, who served as vice president of Counterpoint Research, confirms Instant Digital’s claim that the rumored Pro iPhones will feature a smaller but visible Dynamic Island instead of a punch-hole screen. This certainly adds a bit more weight to the leak, which seems to disapprove of the other reports and representations.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at a launch event in September 2026. In addition to the smaller Dynamic Island, they could also have 5G via satellite, variable aperture for the rear cameras and larger batteries. In addition to the iPhone 18 Pro(s), the company could also introduce its first foldable iPhone.
