iPhone 18 Pro Leak Shows 35% Smaller FaceID Cutout

Apple iPhone 18 Pro CAD Files Leak, Revealing Major FaceID Redesign

Freshly leaked CAD design files for Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro reveal a FaceID camera cutout that is 35% smaller than the one found on the iPhone 17 Pro, according to renders published by notebookcheck citing leaker earlyappleleaks. The leak strongly suggests Apple is on the verge of delivering a near bezel-free, true full-screen iPhone — potentially in time for the device's 20th anniversary.

The CAD renders, believed to have originated from third-party case and screen protector manufacturers who receive dimensional specifications ahead of launch, offer the clearest picture yet of Apple's design direction for its 2025 flagship smartphone lineup.

Key Takeaways From the iPhone 18 Pro Leak

• FaceID cutout shrinks 35% compared to the iPhone 17 Pro, dramatically reducing the visible interruption on the display
• Infrared sensor relocated to the top-left corner of the screen, separate from the main FaceID module
• All FaceID sensors moved under the display, paving the way for a punch-hole-free design in future models
• Aggressive pricing maintained: iPhone 18 Pro expected to start at $1,099, Pro Max at $1,199
• Source of the leak: Third-party accessory manufacturers who receive exact device dimensions months before launch
• 20th anniversary milestone: Apple is reportedly targeting the complete elimination of display cutouts for its anniversary iPhone

How Apple Is Shrinking the FaceID Hardware

The technical approach Apple appears to be taking involves a significant architectural change to its TrueDepth camera system. Rather than housing all FaceID components — the dot projector, infrared camera, and flood illuminator — in a single cluster, Apple is splitting them across different locations on the device.

The infrared sensor is being relocated to the upper-left corner of the display, while the remaining FaceID sensors are being moved beneath the screen itself. This redistribution allows the visible cutout area to shrink by more than a third.

For context, Apple has been gradually reducing the footprint of its face-scanning hardware since it first introduced the notch with the iPhone X in 2017. The company transitioned to the Dynamic Island pill-shaped cutout with the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, and has been refining it ever since. The iPhone 18 Pro represents the next significant step in this multi-year journey toward a seamless display.

The Path to a True Full-Screen iPhone

Apple's long-term goal is clear: eliminate all visible camera openings from the front of the iPhone. The 35% reduction in the iPhone 18 Pro is widely seen as a stepping stone toward that ultimate objective.

Industry analysts believe Apple could achieve a truly hole-free display as early as the iPhone 19 or iPhone 20 generation. Under-display camera technology, which Samsung and other Android manufacturers have already experimented with in devices like the Galaxy Z Fold series, remains technically challenging — particularly when it comes to maintaining the image quality and security standards Apple demands for Face ID.

The timing is significant. The original iPhone launched in 2007, making the iPhone 20 series — expected around 2027 — the 20th anniversary of Apple's smartphone revolution. Multiple reports suggest Apple views that milestone as the ideal moment to unveil a completely uninterrupted display, a design achievement that would mark a symbolic full circle from the device that first popularized the modern smartphone.

Why Accessory Makers Are the Source of These Leaks

The CAD files almost certainly originate from the third-party accessory supply chain, a well-known leak vector in the smartphone industry. Case and screen protector manufacturers need precise device dimensions months before a phone officially launches so they can have products ready for day-one sales.

Apple shares these specifications under strict non-disclosure agreements, but the sheer number of accessory companies involved — many of them small manufacturers in Shenzhen and other Chinese manufacturing hubs — makes it virtually impossible to prevent leaks. The economics are straightforward: being first to market with a perfectly fitting case or tempered glass protector can mean millions of dollars in revenue.

This leak pattern has proven remarkably reliable in recent years. CAD-based renders for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro both emerged through similar channels and proved highly accurate when the devices were eventually unveiled. As a result, the dimensions and design details shown in these iPhone 18 Pro renders carry significant credibility.

Aggressive Pricing Strategy Signals Market Confidence

Perhaps equally notable as the design changes is Apple's reported pricing strategy for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Despite the significant engineering investment required to miniaturize and relocate FaceID components, Apple is expected to hold the line on pricing:

• iPhone 18 Pro: Starting at $1,099
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: Starting at $1,199

These price points are consistent with Apple's current Pro-tier pricing, suggesting the company is absorbing the additional component and engineering costs rather than passing them on to consumers. This approach aligns with Apple's broader strategy of maintaining price stability on flagship models while driving margin improvements through supply chain optimization and increased services revenue.

Compared to Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra, which launched at $1,299.99 earlier this year, Apple's pricing would position the iPhone 18 Pro as the more affordable premium option — a competitive advantage the company has increasingly leveraged in recent product cycles.

What This Means for iPhone Buyers

For consumers currently weighing whether to upgrade, the iPhone 18 Pro leak raises an important consideration. The iPhone 17 Pro, expected to launch in September 2025, will likely feature Apple's first significant Dynamic Island reduction. But the iPhone 18 Pro, arriving roughly a year later, promises an even more dramatic visual improvement.

This creates a familiar dilemma for Apple customers: buy now or wait for the next big thing. The 35% smaller FaceID cutout on the iPhone 18 Pro represents one of the most visually impactful design changes Apple has made since the introduction of the Dynamic Island itself.

Key considerations for potential buyers include:

• Display experience: A smaller cutout means more usable screen real estate and fewer visual distractions during full-screen content consumption
• Face ID performance: Apple will need to maintain or improve biometric security despite the smaller hardware footprint
• Under-display technology maturity: The relocated sensors may introduce new capabilities or, conversely, minor compromises in scanning speed
• Resale value: iPhones with significant design changes historically hold their value better on the secondary market
• Ecosystem timing: The iPhone 18 Pro will likely coincide with iOS 20, potentially bringing AI and software features optimized for the new hardware layout

Looking Ahead: The Race to Eliminate the Cutout

Apple is not operating in a vacuum. Chinese smartphone makers including Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo have already shipped devices with under-display front cameras, though image quality has generally lagged behind traditional implementations. Samsung has taken a more cautious approach, limiting its under-display camera technology to its foldable lineup where the inner screen serves as a secondary selfie option.

Apple's decision to first shrink the cutout rather than immediately go fully under-display suggests the company is prioritizing the user experience — particularly Face ID reliability and front camera quality — over being first to market with a gimmick-free display.

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to launch in September 2026, giving Apple approximately 16 months to finalize the design and begin mass production. If the CAD leaks prove accurate, as they have in previous years, the device will represent Apple's most significant front-panel redesign since the iPhone 14 Pro introduced the Dynamic Island in late 2022.

As the smartphone industry converges on the goal of truly bezel-free, cutout-free displays, Apple's measured approach — shrinking by 35% now, with full elimination on the horizon — reflects the company's characteristic philosophy: arrive later than competitors, but deliver a more polished implementation when it does.