After Years of Rumors, Face ID Without Dynamic Island Has a Chance to Appear on the iPhone 18

Illustration of iPhone 18 (photo: dok. apple)

JAKARTA - Long-standing speculation about an iPhone with an almost hole-less screen is back in force. The latest report from the Korean industry says Apple is starting to require under-display infrared technology or UDIR on high-end OLED panels for the next generation of iPhones. This step is considered as a technical foundation for Face ID without Dynamic Island, which potentially appears starting from the iPhone 18 Pro.

According to the report, Apple is tightening the screen specifications for the premium iPhone line by combining the latest generation UDIR and LTPO OLED backplane. This technology allows the infrared sensor to be placed under the screen, no longer in the notch or Dynamic Island. In theory, this opens the way to reduce, or even eliminate, the screen cutouts on the front.

However, the use of under-display infrared does not automatically mean that the iPhone will immediately come with a completely intact screen. Face ID works by projecting infrared light onto the user's face to build a depth map, then matching it with encrypted facial data on the device. For a cutout-free design to be realized, the entire infrared sensor array must be able to work accurately through the OLED layer, something that until now has been a technical challenge.

Analysts assess that Apple will likely implement a gradual transition. Some Face ID sensors may be hidden under the screen, while other components remain visible. In this scenario, the iPhone 18 Pro may come with a smaller Dynamic Island or just a simple camera hole, instead of a full screen without interruption.

Rumors about Face ID under the screen itself are not new. Since the iPhone X era in 2017, the issue of removing the notch has repeatedly emerged, but it has never really materialized. Dynamic Island, which was introduced in 2022, is actually Apple's compromise solution, combining the needs of sensors with functional interface elements.

In the context of the supply chain, Samsung Display and LG Display are said to be the two main suppliers who are able to meet Apple's demands regarding LTPO and UDIR on a mass production scale. Although Apple has tried to diversify its screen suppliers, including involving BOE, the most advanced features still depend on established OLED manufacturers. The UDIR technical challenge is no joke, because OLED panels naturally absorb and emit infrared light, which risks lowering the accuracy of the sensor.

The two Korean display giants are rumored to have invested heavily in special materials and precision manufacturing processes to maintain the quality of the display, brightness, and durability of the screen, while ensuring the infrared sensor continues to work optimally behind the panel.

Even so, many parties remind that it is not too early to draw conclusions. Face ID depends on several components that must work simultaneously, ranging from flood illuminators, dot projectors, to receiver sensors. Hiding everything under the screen without sacrificing speed and accuracy, especially in low light conditions, is still a big homework.

Apple's history shows that the company tends to delay hardware changes rather than releasing features that have not yet met performance standards. Touch ID under the screen, for example, has never really been present on the iPhone despite being rumored. Face ID itself has also evolved gradually since it was first introduced.

For now, Dynamic Island is still a functional compromise between design and technology. The presence of under-display infrared signals the direction of the future iPhone, but when Face ID actually disappears from the screen surface remains a question mark. In the world of Apple rumors, the only consistent thing is the public's impatience waiting for a truly clean iPhone screen.