WEB DESK: For years, Apple has stubbornly clung to that famous notch, the dark cutout that has been staring back at users since the iPhone X. Now, it finally looks like the Cupertino-based tech giant might be doing what everyone thought it should have done long ago: make the notch smaller.
According to insider reports from MacRumors, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, expected next year, will feature a noticeably smaller Dynamic Island. While Apple is not completely ready to remove it yet, this move marks the company’s first real step towards a fully frameless and hole-free display.
Face ID is still expected to be visible for now, though rumours suggest it might finally go under the screen with the iPhone 19 Pro.
Android did it first, and Apple’s finally catching up
This shift feels like Apple finally catching up with something Android users have had for years. Back in 2019, Samsung’s Galaxy A51, a mid-range phone priced under Rs50,000 in Pakistan, came with a sleek punch-hole display. Around the same time, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S20 series also carried the same design trend forward.
Apple, meanwhile, launched the iPhone 12 Pro Max in late 2020 for around $1,100, but the price in Pakistan was much higher due to the absence of an official Apple store, heavy taxes, and PTA approval charges. The phone sold for well over Rs200,000, still carrying that same old notch staring back.
And yet, people still bought it, and loved it. That is the Apple magic: premium build, reliable performance, and a camera system that remains hard to beat. The newer iPhone 17 series, launched recently, still carries a big Dynamic Island, showing Apple’s love for slow but steady evolution.
Inside the iPhone 18: a familiar face with a smarter brain
While the exterior design will stick to Apple’s signature minimalism, the real change is happening inside. The iPhone 18 Pro lineup will introduce a redesigned camera system featuring a 48-megapixel sensor with variable aperture, a first for Apple. This will allow users to manually adjust the light levels for better shots in tricky conditions, something Android flagships have offered for a while.
The phone will also pack the new A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2-nanometre process, promising major gains in speed and battery life. Another subtle but stylish touch is expected on the back, with a faintly transparent area around the MagSafe ring giving a peek into the phone’s internals. Screen sizes will stay the same at 6.3 inches for the Pro and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max.
What’s next? Foldables and a new release plan
Apple’s plans reportedly do not stop there. Starting in 2026, the company might shake up its launch calendar by unveiling Pro models and foldable iPhones in the autumn, followed by more affordable versions in the spring.
Speaking of foldables, the long-rumoured foldable iPhone is said to take inspiration from Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, featuring a book-style design, a seamless display, four cameras, and even a Touch ID system.
If these leaks hold true, the iPhone 18 could mark the beginning of a major shift for Apple, not just in how its phones look but in how it wants people to experience them. After years of holding back, Apple may finally be ready to break free from its own notch-shaped shadow.