Rumor #1

Today, Weibo blogger Digital Chat Station  posted one of his latest rumors, revealing that Apple  iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max "is indeed testing 3D faces [Face ID] under the screen" and uses a "HIAA single hole" , while the iPhone 18/18 Air is a "conventional 2+1 hole". The corresponding news confirms what was revealed by foreign media "The Information" today.

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The term HIAA (Hole in Active Area) single hole refers to a display technology used in smartphones, particularly by Samsung. It involves creating a precise hole in the active display area to accommodate the front-facing camera. This method allows for a nearly full-screen experience while maintaining a small cutout for the camera.

Apple supplier Samsung has developed different versions of this technology, including HIAA1 and HIAA2, which refine the hole-punch process to minimize defects and improve display quality. The goal is to eventually eliminate the visible camera hole altogether.

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 series of phones in September 2026.

Rumor #2

The Information posted a report titled “Apple Plans iPhone Release Schedule Shakeup, New Styles.” The report notes that Apple is expected to realize the long-cherished dream of former design chief Jony Ive in 2027 - launching a true full-screen iPhone . Sources revealed that at least one new iPhone released in 2027 will be equipped with a true borderless display, and the front camera and Face ID system will be placed under the screen.

Apple plans to gradually transition to a full-screen design by 2027. As an important step in the transition phase, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be the first to be equipped with under-screen Face ID technology , leaving only a small hole in the upper left corner for the front camera.

The full-screen design is expected to be limited to high-end iPhone models, so it is most likely to debut in the iPhone 19 Pro series released in September 2027.fgff

The Information further reported that Apple plans to adjust the release rhythm of its iPhone next year to cope with the increasingly large product line. It is reported that Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to be released in the fall of 2026 along with the iPhone 18 Pro series and “Air” series models.

At the same time, the standard version of the iPhone 18 will be postponed to the spring of 2027 and released together with the successor model of the iPhone 16e.

In addition, the report stated that Apple's first foldable iPhone will adopt a book-like folding form rather than a clamshell design.

The screen size of this model is 5.7 inches when folded, and the screen size will be close to 8 inches when unfolded. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously predicted that the thickness of this foldable iPhone will be between 4.5 and 4.8 mm when unfolded, and will be equipped with Face ID facial recognition instead of Touch ID fingerprint recognition.

Lastly, the report also revealed some other details. For example, Apple plans to launch a new battery case for the iPhone 17 Air . It is said that Apple found in testing that the battery life of the iPhone 17 Air will be lower than that of the previous model, so an external battery case is needed to extend the usage time. Of course that will likely kill the look of iPhone 17 Air being really thin.

At the same time, the report also mentioned that the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max models will be equipped with the long-rumored under-screen Face ID sensor. More importantly, beyond rumors, Apple has several patents regarding this future feature: 01, 02 and 03 = with one of patent figures presented below.