Rumors about the displays of the upcoming iPhone 18 are starting to paint a fairly clear picture: Apple is reportedly preparing a generation in which all models share a common base of high refresh rate and LTPO technology, but with very marked differences on the front between the standard and Pro variants. Leaks originating from China and repeated by several specialized sources suggest that the key leap will not be so much in the size of the panel, but in how the sensors are integrated beneath it.
Although these phones are still months away from release, the leaked information agrees on several points: four main models (iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Air 2) , all with 120Hz LTPO OLED displays, a significant redesign of the front of the Pro models, and a staggered release schedule that would break with Apple's traditional strategy. For users in Spain and Europe, the key question is whether this change in approach will also affect availability and the final price in our market.
iPhone 18 range screen sizes
Leaks attributed to Digital Chat Station and other regular sources on Weibo agree on the general size scheme. According to these reports, Apple is already testing prototypes of all models with very specific screen sizes: 6,27 inches for the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro, 6,86 inches for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and 6,55 inches for the iPhone Air 2. In some reports, these figures appear rounded as 6,3, 6,5, and 6,9 inches, but the underlying technology is the same.
The standard iPhone 18 would feature a 6,27-inch LTPO OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, finally bringing ProMotion technology to the entire iPhone lineup. This screen size would be very similar to that of current models, so a radical change in size in hand isn't expected, but rather a more subtle improvement in the quality and handling of on-screen motion.
In the case of the iPhone Air 2 , the ultra-thin phone in the range, the screen size would increase to 6,55 inches, also with an LTPO panel and a 120Hz refresh rate. This would position the Air as an intermediate option between the base size and the Pro Max, focusing on a light and thin design, but without sacrificing the same level of visual fluidity as the rest of the family.
For the high-end models, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max , sources agree on screen diagonals of 6,27 and 6,86 inches respectively. These figures are virtually identical to those of the previous generation, suggesting that Apple prefers to maintain familiar formats and focus on changing what is visible—and what is hidden—at the top of the screen.
In all cases, we are talking about LTPO OLED panels with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz , something that, if confirmed, would definitively eliminate the frequency distinction between basic and Pro models that had been maintained in previous generations.
LTPO OLED and 120 Hz: same technological basis for the entire series
One point on which all the leaks agree is the complete commitment to LTPO OLED panels in all four models . This technology, and the relationship with suppliers like Japan Display , allows the screen to dynamically adjust its refresh rate, lowering it when displaying static content to save energy and increasing it to 120 Hz when scrolling, gaming, or watching fast-paced video.
For European users, this means that even the most affordable iPhone 18 should offer a similar level of fluidity to the current Pro models, something previously reserved for the brand's most expensive phones. In practice, this will translate to smoother scrolling on social media, web browsing, and system animations, with a direct impact on the everyday user experience.
The combination of LTPO with 120Hz also opens the door to more efficient always-on display modes , something especially relevant in markets like Spain, where intensive mobile phone use for messaging and notifications is the norm. Although there is no firm data on maximum brightness, resolution, or improvements in color reproduction, it is assumed that Apple will maintain or improve upon the levels achieved in the iPhone 17, including its anti-glare screen.
Another piece that fits into this puzzle is the arrival of a new A20 series SoC , manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process, which should improve both performance and power consumption. While these details affect the entire device and not just the screen, they are key to ensuring that variable refresh rates and advanced panel features don't negatively impact battery life.
The Pro segment also features A20 Pro chips and Apple's own C2 modem, which aligns with the company's strategy of increasingly controlling critical components. The direct impact on the displays would translate into improved 5G performance, reduced power consumption while streaming, and a more responsive interface under heavy load.
Under-display Face ID: the big change in the iPhone 18 Pro
The most significant leap forward is expected in the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max . Various leaks describe a new "cutout area under the screen" specifically designed to house the Face ID system. The goal would be to maintain the security of 3D facial recognition, but without the need for such a large physical island as the current one.
To achieve this, Apple is reportedly experimenting with a "microtransparent glass" embedded directly into the screen structure. This piece would act as a tiny window, invisible to the human eye, but would allow the TrueDepth system's infrared light to pass through the panel without significant distortion. Pixels and content would continue to be displayed above this area, while the sensors responsible for unlocking and other biometric functions would operate beneath it.
This approach aligns with the idea of ​​making the front of the iPhone Pro almost completely clean , with the only visible element being the hole-punch front camera. Some reports even mention the possibility of moving it to the upper left corner, a familiar solution for Android users that would break with Apple's classic central symmetry.
Reducing the area occupied by sensors would directly impact the size of the current Dynamic Island. According to leaks, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max would feature a small punch-hole camera, with the rest of the Face ID hardware hidden beneath the display. This would transform the island from a fixed block into a more flexible, software-based element, should Apple choose to do so.
For the user, this could translate into fewer distractions while watching videos or playing games, and an aesthetic closer to the "all-screen" look the brand has been pursuing since the removal of the Home button. In Europe, where many Android devices already offer minimal screen cutouts , this move would put Apple in a more competitive position from a purely visual standpoint.
Dynamic Island: continuity in the base models, a diet in the Pro models
While the Pro models are preparing to conceal some of their sensors, leaks suggest that the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2 will continue to use the traditional Dynamic Island design . This means they would maintain a similar cutout to the current model, which integrates both the front-facing camera and the Face ID system, along with the familiar animations and interfaces.
In practice, this would create a very clear visual division within the range: two phones with an almost clean front and a punch-hole camera (Pro and Pro Max) versus two others with a full dynamic camera island (18 and Air 2). This differentiation would go beyond internal power or the rear camera module, as simply turning on the screen would be enough to know at a glance which model you're looking at.
It's not entirely clear what will happen to Dynamic Island on the Pro. Some sources suggest it could continue as a purely software element , appearing contextually when there's a call, real-time activity, or an important alert, but without being restricted by such a large physical cutout. If so, the island would no longer be tied to the hardware's shape and would become just a floating interface.
In the base models, however, there's talk of a Dynamic Island very similar to the current one , perhaps with a slightly smaller size. It would retain its usual functions for notifications, music, navigation, and activity tracking, which would be familiar to those already using an iPhone with this feature.
For users in Spain, accustomed to watching streaming videos, football, or social media content on their mobile phones, the impact of these changes will be very visible: in the Pro models, the visual intrusion on the content would be reduced, while in the base models, the same approach that has become normal in recent generations would be maintained.
Differences within the range: standard, Air 2, Pro and Pro Max
Although all three models share LTPO OLED technology and a 120Hz refresh rate, Apple's strategy points to a clear segmentation based on the screen. The iPhone 18 would be positioned as the most balanced option: 6,27 inches, full Dynamic Island, and ProMotion. The Air 2 would increase to 6,55 inches, maintaining the Dynamic Island and aiming to attract those who prioritize a thinner body without jumping to the price of the Pro models.
The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max would differ in size (6,27 vs. 6,86 inches), but would share the new in-display Face ID and the minimal camera cutout. Furthermore, all indications suggest they will be the models chosen to debut improved front-facing cameras and some changes to the rear sensors, such as the possible addition of multispectral modules to capture more information than is visible to the naked eye.
The arrival of a foldable iPhone is also mentioned , with an internal front that would replicate the concept of a hole-punch camera in the corner and sensors hidden under the screen. Although this device would be in a different price range, it would be part of the same wave of phones debuting the new front design philosophy.
Overall, the iPhone 18 family would be a range in which the screen serves both as a functional element and as a positioning mark within the catalog : a complete Dynamic Island for the entry-level models and a minimal hole with hidden Face ID for those who opt for the more expensive versions.
Launch schedule and context in Europe
Another recurring theme in several leaks is the change in the release schedule . Various sources agree that Apple could first unveil the high-end models—the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and possibly the foldable iPhone —in late 2026, leaving the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2 for spring 2027.
This move would break with the tradition of launching the entire family at once in September and would align with the intention of giving absolute prominence to the Pro models and the foldable phone in the end-of-year campaign. For the European market, this would mean that those who want the base model would have to wait a few more months, something unusual in the brand's recent history.
Furthermore, the rollout of features such as 5G-NTN satellite connectivity or certain artificial intelligence functions linked to the display hardware could be phased in depending on local regulations. Experience with previous generations has shown that European laws can delay the availability of certain features compared to the United States, something that will need to be monitored if new panel-related functions are introduced.
Meanwhile, the rising costs of key components, such as LPDDR5X memory, could ultimately be reflected in the final price of the iPhone 18 in the Eurozone. There are reports of significant price increases for these modules, which would put additional pressure on a product line already competing in the high end of the market.
Even so, the fact that the entire series adopts 120Hz LTPO displays and that the Pro models debut under-display Face ID positions this generation as one of the most significant in terms of front design since the arrival of the iPhone X. We'll have to see how all of this translates in practice when the devices reach European stores.
Based on the information available so far, the iPhone 18 displays appear to be the central focus of the upcoming refresh: the same overall sizes, LTPO technology, and 120Hz refresh rates across the board, classic Dynamic Island on the entry-level models, and a move to in-display Face ID on the Pro models . Details such as brightness, exact resolution, and how Apple will manage the interface around these new cutouts remain to be resolved, but everything indicates that the company is ready to take another step toward the "all-screen" iPhone without sacrificing the biometric security that has set it apart in recent years.
