For a while now, Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have been rumored to come with a smaller Dynamic Island thanks to the use of an under-display Face ID sensor. This has been rumored so much that we basically assumed it was a confirmed new feature, but apparently not.

A new rumor out of China today says the Dynamic Island on the duo will stay exactly the same as it was for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The move to an under-display Face ID array will be postponed to the next generation, allegedly.

While the source of this rumor (the prolific Digital Chat Station on Weibo) hasn’t outlined why Apple made this decision, it’s pretty easy to speculate that the company may want to keep the iPhone 18 Pro series pricing the same as last year, or if there is an increase induced by the RAM pricing going up across the board, then it’s not a big one.

For such a move not to affect profitability of Apple’s iPhone business, the introduction of new, probably more expensive parts like that under-display sensor array can be sacrificed. DCS also says the screen sizes and shapes will be identical to the iPhone 17 Pro models.

The only upgrades in the next generation will be the A20 Pro chip, built on a 2nm process, the variable aperture camera, and a battery capacity upgrade (to over 5,000 mAh for the Pro Max). Whether or not these spec bumps will be enough for good sales remains to be seen.

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to be unveiled in September alongside the iPhone Fold – or is that the iPhone Ultra?

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Source (in Chinese)