iPhone 18 Pro may feature smaller front camera cutout, rumour claims

Apple may be steering away from a full under-display camera system for the iPhone 18 Pro, with a new leak suggesting the company is instead testing a noticeably smaller front camera cutout rather than eliminating it entirely.

The claim comes from Digital Chat Station, a China-based leaker with a mixed but occasionally accurate track record on Apple hardware. The source had previously suggested Apple was preparing to remove the Dynamic Island altogether by moving both the Face ID system and selfie camera beneath the display.

However, in an updated post on Weibo, the leaker now says Apple is evaluating a reduced hole-in-active-area (HIAA)design — a tiny, precision-cut opening that would allow the front camera to capture images without digital distortion.

The post also repeats earlier rumours that the handset’s overall screen layout “will change,” though it remains unclear whether this refers to a redesigned Dynamic Island or a subtler reshaping of the display.

Some of the additional claims circulating — including a semi-transparent back panel, a variable-aperture rear camera, and a battery “wrapped” in stainless steel — remain vague. Apple already uses stainless-steel vapor chamber cooling in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, so the comment may refer to a modified heat-dissipation system rather than a literal new battery enclosure.

While much of the rumour mill remains speculative, the idea of a smaller punch-hole camera has now surfaced repeatedly, making it one of the more plausible design changes for Apple’s 2026 flagship.