iPhone 18 Prototypes Suggest Transparent Glass and Punch-Hole Display

The design story of Apple’s flagship iPhones is taking another twist, though not quite the radical leap many hoped for. According to new reports, Apple intends to stick with the divisive redesign introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro, carrying it forward to the iPhone 18 lineup in 2026.

For fans who disliked the shift last year, this news may feel disappointing – but there are hints of one intriguing cosmetic change that could help soften the blow.

Leaked information from early prototypes suggests that the iPhone 18 Pro models might feature a new partially transparent glass panel on the rear of the device. This section would interrupt the seamless metal finish that has defined recent Pro models, acting as a large window to facilitate wireless charging. Unlike purely functional elements like the camera or antennas, this transparent strip would serve mostly aesthetic purposes, offering a peek into Apple’s hardware engineering. Enthusiasts could potentially see the vapor chamber cooling system that Apple first introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro.

Beyond that, Apple appears to be taking a more conservative approach. The camera module, with its now-iconic triple lens setup, is expected to remain untouched. Screen dimensions across the series are unlikely to change either, maintaining continuity for accessories and production. However, rumors point to refinements at the front: the Dynamic Island, the pill-shaped cutout housing Face ID and the selfie camera, is reportedly on its way out. Multiple sources claim Apple will shrink or even replace it with a cleaner punch-hole design, enabled by relocating Face ID sensors beneath the display itself.

This transition is significant because it sets the stage for Apple’s broader three-year plan. The iPhone 18 will likely act as the bridge between the Dynamic Island era and the 20th anniversary iPhone, expected in 2027. That milestone model is anticipated to push Apple’s design language even further, potentially removing all display interruptions entirely. The punch-hole iPhone 18, then, could become a one-off transitional generation – remembered as the first to break away from Dynamic Island while hinting at the futuristic all-screen experience to come.

Still, all of this remains speculative. The iPhone 18 is in its earliest prototyping stages, and Apple has been known to change course before a final design locks in. Early leaks about the iPhone 17 Pro ended up aligning closely with reality, which adds weight to these claims. But for now, most users are still waiting to even get their hands on the iPhone 17. If history is any guide, the prototypes we are hearing about today may well reflect the iPhone 18 we’ll see on shelves in just two years’ time.