iPhone 15 Dynamic Island to Include New Integrated Proximity Sensor

This year, all iPhone 15 models will include Apple's Dynamic Island that unifies the pill and hole cutouts at the top of the display, but there will also be a material change to the feature that wasn't included in the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models.

dynamic island
According to a new tweet by Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the proximity sensor on the ‌iPhone‌ 15 series will be integrated inside the ‌Dynamic Island‌ area, instead of sitting below it.

In the iPhone 14 Pro, the proximity sensor is located under the display (outside the Dynamic Island). Conversely, in the iPhone 15 series, the proximity sensor is situated within the Dynamic Island, with almost no change to the Dynamic Island area.

The proximity sensor detects when the user holds the phone up to their ear and shuts off the screen. It's possible that moving the location of the sensor could be related to improvements to Face ID, but as Kuo says, the tweak is unlikely to result in any difference to the look or functionality of the ‌Dynamic Island‌. Regardless, it will mark a change in components that may have simply been instigated to reduce costs.

According to Kuo, Apple supplier Finisar will shift to providing Apple with 940nm wavelength proximity sensors, compared to 1380nm for the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro. Based on additional information provided to MacRumors by leaker Unknownz21, the new proximity sensor is now part of the Single Pearl Module, codenamed "Sphinx."

Apple is expected to launch the ‌iPhone‌ 15 lineup in September as usual. For everything we know about what's new in the new models, be sure to check out our dedicated roundups using the links below.

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Top Rated Comments

mystery hill Avatar
35 months ago
They’re going to update the Island every year, just like they do with the cameras.

‘This is the best Dynamic Island we’ve shipped on iPhone, and we think you’re gonna love it.’
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DMG35 Avatar
35 months ago
Me every year: I think I'll skip this year's upgrade.

Launch Day: Me clicking the Apple store refresh page like a mad man until it opens and I can order....
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
derdante Avatar
35 months ago
Moving components that were once hidden behind the display to a cutout seems like a step back to me.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bLackjackj Avatar
35 months ago

They’re going to update the Island every year, just like they do with the cameras.
Am I the only one that hasent been brainwashed by Apple Marketing? It's still a notch, a floating notch.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nvmls Avatar
35 months ago

I haven't got a 14, is this dynamic island a thing that people use?
It looks better than the notch but it’s useless & more intrusive.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
matt3526 Avatar
35 months ago

It looks better than the notch but it’s useless & more intrusive.
I quite like it to be honest, it's great for things like Music, Apple TV and timers.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)