Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could be the very first devices to drop the pill-shaped cutout in favor of a punch-hole front-facing camera, with all Face ID components placed behind the OLED panel as the company pushes closer and closer towards achieving its ‘full screen’ iPhone ambitions. Even though Android smartphone makers have been launching devices with punch-hole cameras, all of them lack comprehensive facial recognition. Now, according to the latest rumor, an iPhone 18 Pro prototype is being tested with a front-facing camera positioned in one corner, but there’s no confirmation that this variant will enter mass production.
Apple has previously been rumored to be testing the iPhone 18’s production lines, suggesting that the company might have already finalized a design
Previously, the front-facing camera’s position was relatively unknown, so it was assumed the sensor would be placed at the center, since it would be closer to the TrueDepth camera and the other components that make up Face ID. However, according to Weibo’s Smart Pikachu, one iPhone 18 Pro prototype will have the front shooter placed on the upper-left corner, which is similar to the design choice Samsung employed on its old Galaxy S10 family, though, on the latter, the camera was placed on the right corner.
The tipster doesn’t explain why Apple would choose this position, but we will reiterate that this could be just one iPhone 18 Pro prototype, and there may be multiple iterations being tested behind closed doors. The iPhone 18 series’ production lines are rumored to be undergoing testing, with Smart Pikachu previously mentioning that, with the splicing of micro-transparent glass, Apple could be successful in achieving in-screen Face ID technology. Now it remains to be seen how accurate this implementation will be once the lineup officially arrives later this year.
Joining the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is Apple’s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Fold, with the base iPhone 18 expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18e early next year, sporting a rebrand to iPhone 20.
News Source: Smart Pikachu
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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