iPhone 18 Rumors: Apple Reportedly Testing Under Display Face ID
- Apple is reportedly testing in-screen Face ID for 2026, rumors suggest.
- A transparent back and thinner bezels suggest one of the biggest iPhone redesigns in years.
- Apple may release fewer iPhone models next year, with the standard iPhone 18 pushed to early 2027. Read on...
The iPhone 18 rumor cycle is starting to feel a little different from the usual early-leak chaos. Instead of small, predictable hints about camera tweaks or color refreshes, this round is pointing to something far bigger: a redesign that reaches both the front and back of the device, paired with the biggest shakeup to Apple’s annual release strategy in years.
And at the center of the speculation?
A major step toward a true full-screen iPhone.
Photo via The Mac Observer // A concept of an iPhone without the front-facing Face ID scanner.
Apple Is Reportedly Testing In-Screen Face ID
A post on Weibo from the leaker Smart Pikachu claims Apple has begun testing in-screen Face ID using a method that involves “micro-transparent glass splicing.” The description sounds vague, almost overly technical, but it matches previous whispers that Apple has been experimenting with ways to hide the entire TrueDepth system under the OLED panel.
If Apple gets this working, the iPhone 18 could feature only a small punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera—finally shrinking the Dynamic Island for the first time since it debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro. A fully hidden Face ID system has been on Apple’s long-term roadmap for years, though the company has reportedly been cautious due to image quality concerns with under-display components.
Other manufacturers have tried this approach, but the results have consistently been softer and hazier, largely because the OLED layer interferes with light transmission. Apple’s challenge is bigger than most: the depth-sensing array that powers Face ID is far more complex than a simple selfie camera. But this is also the company that nailed Face ID on day one, so expectations remain high.
Photo via Deccan Chronicle // Alternatively, here's a concept of an iPhone 18 with a hole-punch front-facing camera.
A Possible Transparent Back
Interestingly, the same leaker also mentioned that Apple’s iPhone 18 components suggest a slightly transparent back glass. This lines up with earlier supply-chain chatter that Apple could move away from the two-tone finish found on recent models. A more translucent rear panel—something closer to the old iPhone 4 aesthetic—could make a comeback with modern materials.
Design changes at the front and back together would mark one of the largest visual shifts in several years. Paired with rumors of even thinner bezels than the iPhone 17 and tweaks to the new Camera Control button, the iPhone 18 could end up looking noticeably different even at a glance.
Fewer Models Next Year
One of the stranger turns in this story is that Apple may release fewer models in 2026. According to IDC and multiple industry reports, Apple is considering launching just three flagships next fall: the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the company’s first foldable iPhone—often referred to as “iPhone Fold” or “iPhone Ultra.”
Missing from that lineup is the standard iPhone 18. IDC’s latest forecast says Apple’s shift of the base model from fall 2026 to early 2027 may actually reduce next year’s iOS shipments by over four percent. If that timeline holds, it would be the first time in more than a decade that Apple releases a major non-SE iPhone outside the September window.
Mark Gurman has been hinting at this broader strategy for months. Apple wants to spread hardware launches across the year, easing pressure on engineering teams and giving the company multiple marketing moments instead of one massive fall event. If Apple follows through, the fall lineup could start to feel more fluid going forward.
iPhone Pro Max Still Appears to Get the Biggest Upgrade
While the base iPhone 18 looks set for a later debut, the iPhone 18 Pro Max continues to be the model tied to the most aggressive upgrades. Rumors point to a thicker but more durable frame, a redesigned rear glass finish, and new color options including purple, burgundy and a darker coffee tone. The long-running black variant may even disappear, supposedly due to durability issues with the coating.
Photo via MacRumors // iPhone 18 Pro concept rendering in new colors including purple, burgundy, and coffee.
Camera improvements also continue to dominate leaks. A new stacked main sensor from Samsung, full 24-megapixel output from the front camera, and—on the Pro models only—a variable aperture system are all being mentioned by supply-chain sources. If accurate, the Pro Max would represent one of the bigger year-to-year jumps in Apple’s mobile photography roadmap.
Specs, Performance, and the A20 Chip
Even for the non-Pro models, the iPhone 18 generation is expected to mark a meaningful shift in performance. Apple is rumored to adopt TSMC’s 2nm process for the Apple A20 chip, bringing significant efficiency gains beyond the A19 in the iPhone 17. With higher RAM (12GB on the base model has been floated) and 256GB as the new minimum storage tier, Apple appears to be setting a new baseline for future devices.
Photo via MacRumors // Rendering of an Apple A20 chipset.
Battery details are still sparse—a familiar story this early on—but Apple’s software features for power management and the more efficient chip architecture should help the iPhone 18 maintain or slightly improve runtime over the iPhone 17.
Charging speeds, meanwhile, are expected to remain close to the current generation’s 40W wired and 25W Qi2 wireless support.
The Industry Is Bracing for Price Shifts
One background factor shaping these rumors is the global memory component shortage expected in 2026. IDC believes this could drive smartphone average selling prices to all-time highs. If that proves true, Apple’s own pricing strategy for the iPhone 18 lineup may feel different than recent cycles. It’s too early to predict numbers, but analysts generally expect upward pressure.
Should You Wait?
If you’re using an iPhone 15 or 16 and you weren’t sold on the camera and display boosts that came with the iPhone 17, waiting for the iPhone 18 makes sense—especially if Apple does manage to bring under-display Face ID to at least one model. On the other hand, if you’re on an older device and need an upgrade sooner than later, the iPhone 17 remains a very strong jump with its ProMotion display, faster charging, and improved ultra-wide camera.
The bigger question is timing. If the standard iPhone 18 really does slip to spring 2027, that’s a long wait for users who prefer the mainstream model over the Pro line.
Apple’s Long-Awaited Full-Screen iPhone
At a broader level, this entire pattern of leaks fits into something Apple has quietly been pushing toward for years. The “full screen” iPhone—no notch, no Dynamic Island, no visible sensors, barely-there bezels—has been a design target inside Apple since the early days of the iPhone X.
If the iPhone 18 series marks the first step, and if Apple truly plans to reserve a fully cutout-free model for its 2027 lineup (rumored as “iPhone 20” in celebration of the iPhone’s 20th anniversary), then next year’s devices may end up feeling like a major transition point rather than just another spec bump.
Either way, the iPhone rumor cycle is already heating up more than usual for this far out. And if even half of these early claims pan out, 2026–2027 could shape up to be one of Apple’s biggest iPhone overhauls in a decade.
Recommended by the editors:
- No More September iPhones? Apple's Strategy Shift Changes Everything
- MacBook Pro M6 OLED Rumors: Release Date, Price, Features, and More
- Intel Could Finally Return to Apple Computers in 2027
- Foldable iPhone Could Be Apple’s Most Expensive Phone Ever At $2,399
- Apple’s Colorful, Low-Cost MacBook: Rumors, Release Date, Features, and More
Published to Apple Scoop on 7th December, 2025.
