Apple appears poised to make significant changes to the iPhone’s iconic design, according to a recent leak reported by Startup News in an article titled “iPhone 18 Display Leak Hints at Dramatic Design Overhaul.” The leak suggests that the company is preparing to introduce a bezel-less front display with no visible camera cutouts on its upcoming iPhone 18 model, signaling what could be one of the most substantial design departures in years for the flagship smartphone line.
According to sources cited in the report, the new iPhone is expected to feature an edge-to-edge screen enabled by under-display Face ID technology and a hidden front-facing camera. If realized, this advancement would eliminate the need for notches or punch-hole cutouts—elements that have been mainstays of the iPhone’s user interface since the iPhone X in 2017. Instead, biometric sensors and the selfie camera would be fully integrated beneath the OLED display, maintaining uninterrupted screen real estate.
This technology has long been a goal for Apple and its competitors, though functional limitations have so far kept such implementations from reaching the mainstream. While certain Android manufacturers have experimented with under-display cameras, results have varied due to reductions in camera quality and display transparency issues. Apple’s cautious approach—prioritizing both aesthetic elegance and functional excellence—suggests it may have reached a point of engineering maturity suitable for mass production.
In line with earlier rumors, the Startup News article also hints that Apple is pushing for a thinner device overall. This slimmer form factor reportedly comes as the result of refinements to internal architecture, including a more compact logic board and redesigned battery layout. Although official specifications remain unconfirmed, such modifications would support the company’s longstanding emphasis on sleekness without compromising battery life or performance.
Apple has yet to comment on the leak. However, if accurate, the changes outlined in the report would not only distinguish the iPhone 18 visually from its predecessors but also deepen its competitive differentiation in a saturated smartphone market. As hardware innovation slows across the industry, delivering a truly seamless display could provide Apple with both a technical and marketing edge.
The iPhone 18 is expected to be unveiled in September 2026, following Apple’s traditional product release schedule. In the months ahead, industry watchers will be looking for further confirmation of these design innovations, as well as how the company addresses technical challenges associated with under-display components. As with previous design transitions in Apple’s hardware history, the move could signal a broader industry shift—once again setting the tone for the next phase of smartphone development.
