Alleged iPhone 18 Pro glass leak shows slimmer Dynamic Island, under-display IR move reportedly planned

What leaked

It has been reported that multiple tipsters shared photos of what they claim is the iPhone 18 Pro front glass, showing a noticeably reduced Dynamic Island cutout. The images, first posted by the leak account "Early Apple Leaks" and circulated by Chinese tech site IT Home (IT之家), reportedly show a much smaller pill-and-hole area at the top of the display, suggesting Apple is aiming to cut visual clutter and boost screen‑to‑body ratio across the iPhone 18 lineup.

Technical read on the change

Technical commentator Majin Bu reportedly analysed the photos and suggested Apple moved the infrared (IR) emitter for Face ID beneath the display at the screen’s upper‑left, while keeping the IR receiver and selfie camera where they can still be minimally exposed. Why hide the emitter and not the receiver? Emission components are easier to conceal under OLED layers than light‑receiving camera sensors, the analysis argued, which would let Apple shrink the pill‑shaped cutout without compromising biometric function. Another leaker, @i冰宇宙, posted a comparison image showing the current Dynamic Island layout versus the smaller punch‑hole design now circulating — the multiple leaks mutually reinforce the rumor, but remain unverified.

Why it matters

Smaller bezels and reduced notches are a familiar smartphone story, but for Apple the Dynamic Island is also a UI element — not just a mechanical hole. Changing its size affects how system information and notifications are presented. Reportedly slimming the island would be a visible tweak for millions of iPhone owners and could influence display orders in Apple’s supply chain, which relies heavily on Chinese and Taiwanese panel makers. Given broader geopolitical tensions and US export controls that have lately shaped hardware sourcing and component design decisions, any manufacturing or design shift at Apple can ripple through the tech industry — but for now the claims rest on leaked photos and analyst reading, not company confirmation.