iPhone 18 Pro might not feature a punch-hole display after all

What looked like Apple's bold leap to a punch-hole display may have been a translation slip-up, with new leaks pointing to a slimmer Dynamic Island instead.

By Shikhar Mehrotra Published January 20, 2026

Apple iPhone 17 in Lavender Purple — Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

Over the last month, reports about the iPhone 18 Pro models featuring a punch-hole camera cutout (toward the top left of the screen) have surfaced via multiple industry sources. Most recently, Front Page Tech’s YouTube video even shared renders of the purported iPhones with a punch-hole cutout at the front.

However, the Chinese tipster Instant Digital (via @LeakerApple) appears to have refuted the presence of a punch-hole camera on the iPhone 18 Pro models. Per the tipster, the claim “is complete misinformation (translated from Chinese).”

The iPhone 18 Pro is now rumoured to have a central pill cut-out as opposed to its top-left cutout that was circulated via a mistranslation error.

The flood illuminator will be positioned under the display on the top-left, while the IR sensor will be positioned next to the… pic.twitter.com/PzxQSoSP3R
— AppleLeaker (@LeakerApple) January 20, 2026

A translation error sparked the punch-hole iPhone narrative

Apparently, the misconception originated from an “English-language media outlet on Twitter,” which mistranslated the Chinese and Korean reports about the relocation of a Face ID component (the infrared flood illuminator) to the top left corner of the screen, as a hole-punch camera.

Recommended Videos

The tipster reiterates that the iPhone 18 Pro models could feature an under-display infrared flood illuminator on the top left. Other components of the Face ID module, including the dot projector and the front-facing camera, are in the center.

So, instead of featuring a punch-hole front display, the iPhone 18 Pro could retain the Dynamic Island, but it would be smaller than the one on recent models. This reminds me of the initial rumors about the Pro models that claimed a thinner and smaller Dynamic Island could be on the cards.

Ross Young, who has served as Counterpoint Research’s VP, corroborates Instant Digital’s claim that the purported Pro iPhones will feature a smaller yet visible Dynamic Island instead of a punch-hole screen. This surely adds some weight to the leak that seems to disapprove of the other reports and renders.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at a launch event in September 2026. Apart from the smaller Dynamic Island, they could also feature 5G via Satellite, variable aperture for the rear cameras, and bigger batteries. Alongside the iPhone 18 Pro(s), the company could also unveil its first foldable iPhone.

Shikhar Mehrotra

News Writer

For more than five years, Shikhar has consistently simplified developments in the field of consumer tech and presented them…

Topics

Phones

Nothing Phone 4b might pack more than you’d expect from a budget phone

A new leak has detailed key specifications of the upcoming Nothing Phone 4b, including a 5,400mAh battery and a 120Hz display.

Nothing Phone 4b

Nothing is gearing up to launch a new budget phone early next month, and the company recently gave us an early look at its design. While it hasn't revealed the device's specifications, a new leak has outlined what the Phone 4b may offer in terms of display, chip, battery, and storage.

Key specifications revealed

Gaming

Don’t breathe easy just yet. Apple and Microsoft aren’t done with price hikes.

Xbox and Apple device price hikes could be a warning for the rest of the tech industry.

Earlier today, Microsoft raised the price of its Xbox consoles by up to $150 in the U.S. Just a few hours before that, Apple announced a similar move for its Mac and iPad portfolio, while also raising the sticker price of its Vision Pro headset and several other products except the iPhone. But it seems these two giants are not done with price hikes yet.

Neither company has explicitly said that more price hikes are coming, but their statements suggest otherwise. Take, for example, this statement that Apple shared with The Washington Post earlier today.

Phones

Samsung’s wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 may fix the two foldable flaws people still complain about

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide may be the complete foldable Samsung had envisioned

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

Samsung’s next premium book-style foldable may do more than refine its design and get the annual spec bump. A new leak suggests the rumored Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide could directly address two of the most annoying foldable complaints, namely the weight and display crease.

According to sources who have handled samples of Samsung’s wider Fold 8 model, the phone feels surprisingly light. he actual weight is still unconfirmed, but previous leaks have pointed to around 201g, which would make it lighter than the 215g Galaxy Z Fold 7 and even the 214g Galaxy S26 Ultra. This might not sound like a big deal till you've actually used a foldable phone. I recently reviewed the Motorola Razr Fold, and despite its slim design, the heft is what kept me away from switching to it for a while.