Apple may be a step closer to an iPhone with nothing but screen across the front. A prominent Chinese leaker says the company is testing “micro‑transparent glass” panels that would let the TrueDepth Face ID sensors operate from beneath the display — a move that could shrink (or alter) the familiar pill‑shaped Dynamic Island.
Smart Pikachu, a Weibo account that's supplied accurate supply‑chain scoops in the past, claims Apple is experimenting with a spliced, micro‑transparent window built into the display. The aim: let infrared components for Face ID pass through without distortion. That’s technically sensible — manufacturers have tried similar approaches using micro‑perforated or nano‑patterned glass to improve IR transmission in a localized area above sensor arrays.
What the tests could mean
If these material tests pan out, the obvious result is a smaller visible cutout. Several analysts and reporters have suggested Apple will reduce the Dynamic Island for the iPhone 18 Pro models rather than eliminate it outright: Ross Young has said under‑display Face ID is possible while still keeping a slimmer pill, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has described a slimmed Dynamic Island in prior reporting. The new “micro‑transparent” claim fits that narrative — TrueDepth components migrate beneath the panel while a smaller hole remains for the front camera.
Apple reportedly isn’t limiting early testing to a single model in the way supply‑chain chatter often sounds. Sources sometimes use “series” broadly when materials are under evaluation, so the focus is likely the higher‑end iPhone 18 Pro family first — the devices that usually get new screen tech. That matches previous leaks suggesting the Pro phones (and the rumored foldable) may arrive at a September event, while the base iPhone 18 and iPhone Air follow months later, giving Apple time to clear supply or tweak materials. For background on Apple’s current front‑facing design and what this change would upend, see our look at the iPhone 17 upgrade choices.
The tradeoffs and why this isn’t guaranteed yet
Under‑display selfie and Face ID tech is not new to the industry, but it has been a struggle. Early implementations — most notably Samsung’s under‑display camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 — produced disappointing image quality and vendors subsequently dialed back. Cameras shot through sub‑pixel patterns or modified glass can look washed out or lose sharpness. That’s why some reports caution Apple might hold off until it can match the company’s usual standards for camera performance.
The difference here is Apple is allegedly prioritizing the infrared TrueDepth sensors rather than just the selfie camera. That reduces one set of technical challenges: IR transmission through a patterned area can be optimized differently than visible‑light image capture. Still, putting any optical system under a screen requires tradeoffs and a lot of calibration — and Apple has historically moved slowly until those tradeoffs are acceptable.
There’s also the production side: suppliers need time to adapt manufacturing for micro‑patterned or micro‑transparent glass, and that can create bottlenecks. The staggered launch rumors — Pro models first, then the rest of the lineup months later — may reflect that supply timing. Rumours about the second‑gen iPhone Air and other midrange changes suggest Apple could prioritize where to place new tech this cycle; the roadmap chatter around the iPhone Air successor is worth keeping an eye on as Apple splits launches between 2026 and early‑2027 (/news/iphone-air-2-dual-cameras-2026).
What to expect as this develops
Expect more nuances in the months ahead. Leaks at this stage often describe material testing rather than finished parts; suppliers accelerate preparation when Apple signals interest, but tests don’t guarantee shipping hardware. If Apple solves the IR transmission issue without harming front camera quality, the payoff is clear: cleaner screens, more usable display area, and a refreshed look for the iPhone’s front face.
Otherwise, Apple could simply reduce the size of the Dynamic Island while keeping some components outside the active display — a conservative bet that preserves camera and Face ID quality while giving users a visually neater front.
Either way, the iPhone 18 cycle looks poised to bring meaningful design experimentation. Whether that ends up as an under‑display Face ID that meets Apple’s standards — or a refined, smaller pill that feels like progress without upheaval — remains one of the more interesting hardware threads to watch as suppliers finalize materials and Apple tightens plans ahead of next year.