Apple could introduce game-changing front camera design to new iPhone 18 Pro
Apple's iPhone design has remained relatively consistent over the past few years.
The smartphone's cameras have improved significantly, processors have gotten faster, and a wealth of features have been added, but the fundamental design hasn't changed much since the notch was introduced back in 2017.
While many Apple users are currently adjusting to iOS 26.2, which added a new camera feature that makes notifications harder to miss, attention is now turning to what's coming next.
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The tech giant is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone in fall 2026, according to multiple people involved in the project. When unfolded, that device will be wider than it is tall, resembling a small iPad.
Before that, Apple's next entry-level iPhone 17e is expected to launch in spring 2026 with notable upgrades.
Now, a new report from The Information suggests Apple is planning huge design changes across its iPhone lineup over the next couple of years, with the iPhone 18 Pro potentially featuring the most radical front-facing redesign in iPhone history.
For as long as we've known, the iPhone’s front camera has always been located pretty much in the centre of the device, alongside the top earpiece.
However, the report from Wayne Ma and Qianer Liu reveals that Apple plans to put the Face ID sensors underneath the display on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. This would shrink most of the front cutout, leaving only a minimal punch-hole for the camera, which Apple would move to the upper-left corner of the display.
Although it's unclear how this dramatic change will affect the Dynamic Island software features.
Other than that, the iPhone 18 Pro models will look very similar to the iPhone 17 Pro, as per the report.
Moreover, the report also confirms earlier rumours that at least one iPhone 18 Pro model will feature a camera with a mechanical aperture. This will allow Apple to use a larger sensor with improved low-light performance while closing the aperture in bright conditions to prevent overexposure.
The company also plans to adopt a new chip-assembly technology from its chipmaking partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. This would put the memory chips closer to the iPhone’s core processor and could allow advanced AI features to respond more quickly to user commands without relying on cloud servers. Cloud-based AI is generally slower for users and more expensive for Apple to operate.
That said, there's still plenty of time for more speculation as Apple isn't expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max until September of 2026. Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 18 has been rumoured for a spring 2027 release.