Apple Begins Testing Under-Display Face ID for iPhone 18 [Rumor]

Apple has reportedly begun testing under-display facial recognition technology for the iPhone 18 lineup, signaling that the company may be pushing to move Face ID beneath the screen sooner than some analysts expected. The claim comes from the Weibo account 'Smart Pikachu,' which says supply-chain sources have confirmed that testing is underway.

According to the post, Apple is evaluating "under-display 3D" components, a clear reference to the Face ID system. The leaker also mentions "spliced micro-lens glass," suggesting Apple is experimenting with new optical materials that can let depth-sensing hardware function through the display without hurting image quality. Achieving this reliably has long been one of the biggest challenges for under-screen sensor designs.

The timing lines up with earlier reporting from The Information, which said Apple plans a major redesign for the iPhone 18 Pro that hides the entire Face ID array under the panel. That design would reportedly use a single hole-punch cutout for the front camera, possibly positioned in the top-left corner of the screen, marking Apple's biggest departure yet from the Dynamic Island.


Not all forecasts agree on the schedule. Some recent reports claim Apple may wait until its 20th-anniversary iPhone in 2027 to debut a full all-screen design with both under-display Face ID and a hidden front camera. Still, early supply-chain testing often begins years ahead of mass production, so the current activity may indicate Apple is assessing whether yields could support a 2026 introduction.

Even if the technology is not ready in time, the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to deliver a significant hardware refresh. Rumors point to Apple's C2 modem and a 2-nanometer A20 chip, along with a main camera that may offer a variable aperture. Other leaks suggest Apple could still shrink the punch-hole cutout or adjust the layout if the fully invisible solution needs more development time.

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