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Your iPhone 18 Pro could get a much smaller Dynamic Island

Rumors say the cutout shrinks about 35 percent, for a cleaner front.

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Apple iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange leaning on a gray wall.
Digital Trends

The iPhone 18 Pro Dynamic Island could soon look a lot less intrusive, if a new leak is on target. A post from reputable leaker Ice Universe says Apple has trimmed the cutout width on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max from 20.76mm to 13.49mm, a drop of roughly 35%.

That’s a meaningful design shift because it’s one of the few pieces of front hardware you notice dozens of times a day. Another rumor comparison post in your screenshots points in the same direction and frames it as a fresh look versus the iPhone 17 Pro.

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There are still open questions, like how the measurement was taken, whether the height changes too, and how close this is to final production hardware. But if this width drop sticks, the Dynamic Island may fade from focal point to background detail.

The Dynamic Island cutout width on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max has been reduced from 20.76 mm to 13.49 mm, representing a reduction of approximately 35%. pic.twitter.com/dLnUdCts7z

— Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) January 23, 2026

It’s a measurable change, if it holds

What makes this rumor feel more concrete than most is the specificity. Instead of a vague “smaller cutout,” it hinges on a precise width change for both Pro models. Even so, the screenshots don’t spell out what the number is based on, like a prototype in hand, CAD drawings, or early component specs.

That missing context matters because the cutout’s presence isn’t only about width. A small shift in height or corner shape can change how your eye reads the top of the display. Until more sources repeat the same dimensions with clearer sourcing, treat this as a promising data point, not a lock.

How your screen could feel different

A slimmer pill would mainly change the vibe of the phone. In bright apps, photos, and white web pages, the cutout is hard to ignore. Make it narrower and the top edge looks cleaner, even if you aren’t gaining some huge chunk of usable display.

It could also nudge Apple’s UI choices. Dynamic Island lives on animations, Live Activities, and quick controls, all designed around a certain footprint. If the hardware shrinks, Apple may tighten how those elements expand and stack so they still read clearly at a glance.

What to watch before you buy

This isn’t the kind of leak you should base a purchase on yet. The posts don’t attach a timeline beyond the iPhone 18 Pro name, and there’s no confirmation the change is set for mass production rather than one of several internal designs.

Still, a cutout that’s about a third narrower is the kind of tweak you’d see every day. The key checkpoint now is repetition from other leaks. If the same width claim shows up again, ideally backed by parts drawings or multiple leakers lining up on the same figures, it moves from “interesting” to “credible.”

Paulo Vargas
Paulo Vargas is an English major turned reporter turned technical writer, with a career that has always circled back to…
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