APPLE may be preparing to give the iPhone a dramatic makeover next year.
The company has only just launched its iPhone 17 line-up, but Apple is already hard at work on the iPhone 18 behind closed doors.
This year saw Apple experiment with a bright ‘Cosmic Orange’ iPhone 17 Pro and a new ultra-slim model: the iPhone Air.
And for years, Apple has reportedly been working on a foldable phone to rival the likes of Google and Samsung.
But Apple is also expected to introduce a major redesign of its core iPhone in 2026, by concealing one key feature.
According to a post from tech leaker “Smart Pikachu” on Chinese social media Weibo, Apple is looking into hiding the Face ID or camera module.
I-SAVE!
I spent a month with cheap iPhone 17 – three reasons to buy it over pricier models
TIME TO BUY!
Exact times to buy new tech each year to save £100s on iPhone, TVs and MORE
The post notes: “The iPhone 18 series is confirmed to be testing under-display 3D technology, using a micro-transparent glass panel. This is expected to accelerate supply chain development.”
Face ID is the system that scans faces to authenticate users – and it’s housed in the “notch” at the top of the display.
And it sits alongside the selfie camera on the cut-out.
On newer iPhone models, the “notch” was replaced by a floating “Dynamic Island” that would was interactive, and would display your activities, like music playback.
But it still blocks out part of the screen, which isn’t ideal.
So for a long time, Apple has been reportedly working on solving the problem.
Back in May, The Information reported that the iPhone 18 Pro would use a system that concealed Face ID under the screen.
And the camera would simply be contained in a tiny hole in the corner of the device.
This would result in the removal of the Dynamic Island.
Then in June, long-time Apple leaker Mark Gurman, of Bloomberg, said that Apple would incorporate a smaller Dynamic Island into the 2026 iPhone.
That might mean the Face ID is concealed, but that the camera is still built into a Dynamic Island.
Industry analyst and display expert Ross Young has also said that the more premium iPhone 18 Pro models might feature an under-screen Face ID system.
In any case, we won’t know for a while, as Apple isn’t expected to unveil the iPhone 18 series until September 2026.
The new gadget might land alongside the long-awaited foldable iPhone, which would allow Apple to squeeze a larger display into a pocketable device.
IPHONE SCREEN SIZES – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
Here’s how iPhone screen sizes have changed over the years – as measured in inches diagonally from corner to corner…
- iPhone (2007) – 3.5 inches
- iPhone 3G (2008) – 3.5 inches
- iPhone 3GS (2009) – 3.5 inches
- iPhone 4 (2010) – 3.5 inches
- iPhone 4S (2011) – 3.5 inches
- iPhone 5 (2012) – 4 inches
- iPhone 5S (2013) – 4 inches
- iPhone 5C (2013) – 4 inches
- iPhone 6 (2014) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 6+ (2014) – 5.5 inches
- iPhone 6S (2015) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 6S+ (2015) – 5.5 inches
- iPhone SE (2016) – 4 inches
- iPhone 7 (2016) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 7+ (2016) – 5.5 inches
- iPhone 8 (2017) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 8+ (2017) – 5.5 inches
- iPhone X (2017) – 5.8 inches
- iPhone XS (2018) – 5.8 inches
- iPhone XR (2018) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone XS Max (2018) – 6.5 inches
- iPhone 11 (2019) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 11 Pro (2019) – 5.8 inches
- iPhone 11 Pro Max (2019) – 6.5 inches
- iPhone SE 2nd gen (2020) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 12 Mini (2020) – 5.4 inches
- iPhone 12 (2020) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 12 Pro (2020) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 13 Mini (2021) – 5.4 inches
- iPhone 13 (2021) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 13 Pro (2021) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone SE 3rd gen (2022) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 14 (2022) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 14 Plus (2022) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 14 Pro (2022) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 14 Pro Max (2022) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 15 (2023) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 15 Plus (2023) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 15 Pro (2023) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 15 Pro Max (2023) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 16 (2024) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 16 Plus (2024) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 16 Pro (2024) – 6.3 inches
- iPhone 16 Pro Max (2024) – 6.9 inches
- iPhone 16e (2025) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 17 – 6.3 inches
- iPhone Air – 6.5 inches
- iPhone 17 Pro – 6.3 inches
- iPhone 17 Pro Max – 6.9 inches
It’s also been rumoured that Apple might split up its phone launches, and release the iPhone 18 Pro models in September, followed by the cheaper iPhone 18 in early 2027.
However, we’re still a long way out, and even if those rumours are true, Apple’s plans could change before then.
Instead, Apple’s next iPhone is expected to be the budget-friendly iPhone 17e in early 2026.
This would be a cheaper alternative to the iPhone 17, mirroring Apple’s strategy with the iPhone 16e release earlier this year.
