iPhone 18 Pro Teardown Reveals How Apple Shrunk the Dynamic Island - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iPhone 18 Pro Teardown Reveals How Apple Shrunk the Dynamic Island

YouTube channel REWA Technology today shared one of the first iPhone 18 Pro teardown videos, offering a look inside the new device.

iPhone 18 Pro Dynamic Island 1
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max feature a smaller Dynamic Island, which Apple achieved by moving Face ID's infrared camera under the display in the top-left corner. The pixels above the infrared camera have a special pattern that lets infrared light pass through, but that area of the screen looks fairly normal at typical viewing angles.

The teardown shows the repositioned infrared camera, plus other changes like the larger 48-megapixel main camera with variable aperture.


The model in the video has a physical SIM card tray, meaning it has a slightly smaller battery compared to eSIM-only models sold in the U.S., Canada, Japan, and select other countries. As expected, this model has a 4,056 mAh battery capacity.

We are still waiting for a teardown of the U.S. version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which is expected to have a Qualcomm cellular modem, such as the Snapdragon X80 or the Snapdragon X85. The smaller iPhone 18 Pro uses Apple's C2 modem worldwide, as does the iPhone 18 Pro Max in all other countries beyond the U.S., according to Apple.

Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Max Glacier Camera

Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Users With AT&T Cellular Issue Need to Have Device Replaced

Friday October 2, 2026 8:21 pm PDT by
Apple today confirmed that a "small number" of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network have experienced an issue that causes the device to lose cellular service, thereby preventing phone calls, text messages, and data from working. Thousands of users complained about the issue across the Apple Support Community and other platforms. Apple said it released iOS 27.0.1 earlier this week and...
iPhone 18 Pro Max ATT

AT&T Acknowledges iPhone 18 Pro Max Issues: Update 'Immediately'

Thursday October 1, 2026 8:42 pm PDT by
In a text message sent to customers today, AT&T acknowledged that some iPhone 18 Pro Max devices on its network are experiencing cellular issues. AT&T said that customers should immediately update to iOS 27.0.1, despite the fact that many affected users have said that the update does not resolve the issues. There are now at least thousands of users that have experienced this problem,...
Face ID iPhone 18 Pro

Apple Confirms iPhone 18 Pro Bug Fix Update is Coming Next Week

Thursday September 24, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
Apple has confirmed to 9to5Mac's Benjamin Mayo that it plans to release a software update early next week with a fix for a Face ID issue affecting some iPhone 18 Pro users. Yesterday, we reported that Apple is testing iOS 27.0.1, which is likely to be the update with the...

Top Rated Comments

5 weeks ago

Just a small correction. "Shunk" should be "shrank."
Just a small correction. "Shunk" should be "shrunk". 😜
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IIGS User Avatar
5 weeks ago
Good luck putting it back together!

When I was a kid I used to take everything in the house apart sans adult supervision. I remember having my parent’s Sylvania top loading VHS machine in pieces on the living room floor one day when I was home sick from school. This is one of those old school boxes with knob tuners on the front, so I just dated myself.

I got it back together and no one was the wiser. It ran for another 5+ years or so until newer machines made it obsolete.

Not before my parents got a second VCR so they could copy rented movies and build a collection. Those were the days.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
5 weeks ago
That under display infrared camera on iPhone 18 Pro and the RGB under display camera on iPhone Duo shows Apple hedging its bets rather than going all-in on both. Expect both to be under display in the next generation.

For the True Depth system for Face ID, that still leaves the flood illuminator and dot projector. The flood illuminator can be moved to an edge of the screen. The dot projector might need to be integrated into an area in between pixels.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
therunningman Avatar
5 weeks ago
Just a small correction. "Shunk" should be "shrank."
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Newton1701 Avatar
5 weeks ago
The Face ID IR camera moving to the corner likely explains all the rumors about the 18 Pro having a hole punch camera in that spot. Insiders were seeing that and not realizing Apple was splitting up the front facing cameras. One of the reasons rumors aren’t always right, only one piece of the puzzle is seen, not the bigger picture.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
btrach144 Avatar
5 weeks ago

no more innovation. the dynamic island is a gimmick.
Huh? Apple has taken the IR sensor under the screen. That’s a move forward. It’s called progress.

We will likely see further innovation in future years.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple Store Pickup System for iPhone Duo Just Went Live Again in U.S.
Apple Store Pickup System for iPhone Duo Just Went Live Again in U.S.
6 minutes ago
Apple Closes French Stores Ahead of Further Protests
Apple Closes French Stores Ahead of Further Protests
7 hours ago
Apple Pushes Back on DOJ Request for More Evidence
Apple Pushes Back on DOJ Request for More Evidence
8 hours ago
The iPhone Duo Can Be a Tiny Mac, a Toaster, and a Nintendo DS
The iPhone Duo Can Be a Tiny Mac, a Toaster, and a Nintendo DS
13 hours ago
Using an Apple Pencil With the iPhone Duo: What to Know
Using an Apple Pencil With the iPhone Duo: What to Know
15 hours ago
Apple Store Pickup for iPhone Duo Starting to Resume But Very Limited
Apple Store Pickup for iPhone Duo Starting to Resume But Very Limited
16 hours ago
iPhone Duo Jailbroken on Launch Day
iPhone Duo Jailbroken on Launch Day
17 hours ago
Apple Seeds Updated watchOS 27.2 Release Candidate
Apple Seeds Updated watchOS 27.2 Release Candidate
17 hours ago
Apple Store in UK Reopens With New Design on iPhone Duo Launch Day
Apple Store in UK Reopens With New Design on iPhone Duo Launch Day
17 hours ago
Crackgate? iPhone Duo Owners Report Screens Breaking Along the Hinge
Crackgate? iPhone Duo Owners Report Screens Breaking Along the Hinge
18 hours ago
iPhone Duo Brings Back Long Lines at Apple Stores
iPhone Duo Brings Back Long Lines at Apple Stores
18 hours ago
The MacRumors Show: iPhone Duo Arrives, Touchscreen MacBooks Next
The MacRumors Show: iPhone Duo Arrives, Touchscreen MacBooks Next
21 hours ago
Apple Released iOS 27.1 for iPhone Duo Only
Apple Released iOS 27.1 for iPhone Duo Only
21 hours ago
iPhone Duo: Open Two Apps Side by Side and Lock Them As an App Pair
iPhone Duo: Open Two Apps Side by Side and Lock Them As an App Pair
21 hours ago
iPhone Duo Launches With Carrier and Accessory Discounts Available
iPhone Duo Launches With Carrier and Accessory Discounts Available
22 hours ago
Apple Music Has a Hidden iPod You Can Play With
Apple Music Has a Hidden iPod You Can Play With
22 hours ago
iPhone Duo Says 'Hello' to You Personally
iPhone Duo Says 'Hello' to You Personally
23 hours ago
iPhone Duo: How to Skip the Swipe Up After Touch ID
iPhone Duo: How to Skip the Swipe Up After Touch ID
23 hours ago
Where to Buy iPhone Duo Today: Stores, Pickup, and Wait Times
Where to Buy iPhone Duo Today: Stores, Pickup, and Wait Times
1 day ago
MacBook Neo Helps Apple Outpace Rivals as Market Declines
MacBook Neo Helps Apple Outpace Rivals as Market Declines
1 day ago
Happy 25th Anniversary, iPod
Happy 25th Anniversary, iPod
1 day ago
iPhone Duo Demand Reportedly Exceeds Apple's Expectations
iPhone Duo Demand Reportedly Exceeds Apple's Expectations
1 day ago
iPhone Duo Launch Begins as First Orders Reach Customers
iPhone Duo Launch Begins as First Orders Reach Customers
2 days ago
1Password for Agents Keeps Your Passwords Hidden From AI
1Password for Agents Keeps Your Passwords Hidden From AI
2 days ago
iPhone Duo 24 Hours Later: Your Questions Answered
iPhone Duo 24 Hours Later: Your Questions Answered
2 days ago
Apple's iWork Apps Get 'Intelligent Assistant' and iPhone Duo Support
Apple's iWork Apps Get 'Intelligent Assistant' and iPhone Duo Support
2 days ago
Apple is Apparently Considering a Slightly Larger iPhone Duo
Apple is Apparently Considering a Slightly Larger iPhone Duo
2 days ago
Giant iPhone Duo Displays Coming to Four Apple Stores
Giant iPhone Duo Displays Coming to Four Apple Stores
2 days ago
Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]
Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]
2 days ago
Apple Updates More Apps With iPhone Duo Support
Apple Updates More Apps With iPhone Duo Support
2 days ago