Apple is expected to shrink the iPhone 18 Pro Max Dynamic Island by moving Face ID components under the display. That would keep the same basic body shape while changing the most visible part of the front screen.
For buyers who care about the front of the phone, the change is subtle but real. A smaller cutout leaves more uninterrupted screen space without forcing a full redesign of the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max.
iPhone 18 Pro Max keeps the same shape
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to retain the basic sizes and designs of this year’s models. Apple is also planning to better blend the colors of the aluminum and glass areas for a unified look.
That means the phones are not headed for a dramatic external reset. The more obvious changes are concentrated in details buyers see up close, not in a bigger chassis or a different silhouette.
Face ID moves under the display
The smaller Dynamic Island comes from Face ID components moving under the display. Apple is testing a variety of new colors for the iPhone 18 Pro models as well.
In practice, the front of the phone should look cleaner even though the underlying hardware remains complicated. The visual shift is the point, since the phone still keeps the same core layout.
A20 Pro, C2 modem, and battery gains
The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to use the A20 Pro chip with a 2nm process and WMCM packaging, and Apple says the chip should improve performance, efficiency, and AI tasks. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are also expected to get modestly larger batteries than their predecessors.
The bigger efficiency gains are expected to come from the A20 Pro chip and the C2 modem. Apple’s C1 modem debuted in iPhone 16e, and the C1X modem arrived in iPhone Air, so the C2 would be the next step in that modem line.
Camera Control on iPhone 18
Apple is expected to add a variable aperture main camera to the iPhone 18 Pro, which should give greater control over depth of field in photos. Apple is also reportedly updating Camera Control on the iPhone 18 line with a more scaled-back set of features, and touch-sensitive components will be removed.
That is the trade-off in this generation. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still expected to feel familiar, but the front design, chip, camera, battery, modem, and controls are all being adjusted at once. The fall launch of the iPhone 18 lineup is the moment when buyers will learn how much of that package Apple actually ships.
