A surprising new rumor about the iPhone 18 Pro design is making waves, suggesting Apple might be planning a radical departure from its decade-long symmetrical screen layout. According to recent leaks, the upcoming flagship could see its selfie camera and Dynamic Island relocated to the top-left corner of the display. This potential change could be a significant intermediate step in Apple’s quest for a seamless, all-screen experience, fundamentally altering the user interface.

What’s New with the iPhone 18 Pro Design?

The speculation, which points to the 2026 iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, centers on the placement of the camera and sensor array. Since the iPhone X, this hardware has been housed in the top-center of the screen. The new rumor suggests Apple plans to shift the entire Dynamic Island, which includes the selfie camera and the TrueDepth sensors for Face ID, to the upper-left corner. If true, this would mark the end of a long-standing design tradition.

The primary motivation behind this move is likely to free up the central screen area, offering a more immersive experience for watching videos, gaming, and using other full-screen applications. While Apple’s ultimate goal is a completely smooth glass surface with no cutouts, the technology for high-quality under-display cameras is not yet ready. Therefore, relocating the island is seen as a practical transitional step.

This potential design shift could introduce several changes:

• Asymmetrical Display Layout: A departure from the traditional symmetrical design, creating a hardware island on the left side of the screen.
• Expanded Content Area: The center and right portions of the screen would be completely unobstructed for content consumption.
• Software Optimizations: The iOS interface, notifications, and Dynamic Island functions would need to be redesigned for the new position.

The Road to a Truly All-Screen iPhone

The main reason for this rumored design is the immaturity of under-display camera technology. These cameras work by capturing images through the pixels of the display, which often results in a noticeable drop in photo quality. Issues like reduced light intake, poor color accuracy, and sharpness problems are significant hurdles. For a company like Apple, which prioritizes image quality, such a compromise is unacceptable. Consequently, moving the visible camera cutout to the corner appears to be a logical interim solution until the technology matures.

Industry analysts do not expect Apple to release an iPhone with a completely uninterrupted display before the iPhone 20 series. The company is taking a cautious, step-by-step approach, gradually acclimating users to new designs while advancing its technology. The Dynamic Island, introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro, successfully turned the notch into a functional interface element. Now, relocating this functional island could be the next phase in testing a new user experience.

How Would a Corner Camera Affect User Experience?

Moving the camera and Dynamic Island to the corner has both potential advantages and disadvantages. The biggest benefit would be a clear central screen, especially when using the phone in landscape mode for videos or games. Notifications and system alerts could also be displayed more discreetly in the corner.

However, there are potential challenges. Most people are used to a central camera for selfies and video calls. A corner camera could make it harder to maintain eye contact and might result in awkward angles in photos and videos. Furthermore, thousands of existing apps would need to be updated to accommodate the new layout. It will be crucial for Apple to provide developers with the necessary tools and time for this transition.

So, what are your thoughts on the potential new design of the iPhone 18 Pro? Share your opinions with us in the comments!