iPhone 18 Pro Under Display Face ID Features: The Full-Screen Revolution

iPhone 18 Pro Under Display Face ID Features: The Full-Screen Revolution & A19 Bionic Power

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Key Takeaways

• iPhone 18 Pro under display Face ID features will finally deliver a true full-screen experience without a notch or Dynamic Island.
• The A19 Bionic chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process promises massive performance and efficiency gains, with A19 Bionic chip performance benchmarks showing single-core scores around 3500 and multi-core scores near 9500.
• Apple iPhone 18 Pro release date specs point to a September 2026 launch with under-display Face ID, a 48MP periscope camera with 5x zoom, 12GB RAM, and up to 1TB storage.
• An iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro comparison reveals critical differences including display design, chip generation, camera zoom capabilities, and RAM capacity.
• The 18 Pro is poised to be the best new iPhone 2025 under display technology despite potential first-generation trade-offs in sensor accuracy.

For years, Apple fans have dreamed of a true full-screen iPhone without a notch or Dynamic Island. The iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to finally deliver this with a groundbreaking change: under-display Face ID. This article will cover all rumored iPhone 18 Pro under display Face ID features, specifications, and whether it is worth upgrading from previous models. The purpose of this post is to analyze and compare all new features, specs including A19 Bionic chip performance benchmarks and Apple iPhone 18 Pro release date specs, and help readers with their upgrade decision. We will also include an iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro comparison to help you decide, positioning the 18 Pro as the best new iPhone 2025 under display technology. For a broader perspective on what makes a smartphone revolutionary, you can also check out our thoughts on the evolution of smartphone design with foldable technology.

The Flagship Feature – Deep Dive into Under-Display Face ID

iPhone 18 Pro under display Face ID features involve moving the TrueDepth camera system, including the infrared camera and flood illuminator, beneath the OLED panel. This uses a custom pixel arrangement that allows IR light to pass through while maintaining display quality. According to display analyst Ross Young and supply-chain reports from The Elec, Apple plans this for the iPhone 18 Pro, which is expected in 2026, distinct from the iPhone 17 series which retains a smaller Dynamic Island. Initially, the front-facing camera might remain visible as a small pinhole, but the entire cutout disappears for Face ID sensors. This delivers a true full-screen design, making it the best new iPhone 2025 under display technology.

Benefits of this technology include:

• No notch or Dynamic Island, providing an uninterrupted viewing experience.
• Fully immersive experience for media consumption and gaming.
• Enhanced aesthetic appeal with a seamless front display.

However, there are challenges. First-generation implementations may show reduced accuracy in direct sunlight, as seen in Android competitors like Samsung and Xiaomi. Speed is expected to match current Face ID, but early yields may be lower. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter from February 2025 noted that Apple engineers tested under-display Face ID under the codename “Lorenzo,” and that 2026 Pro models are “likely” the first to ship with it. Apple initially planned this for the iPhone 16 Pro but delayed the timeline. A further delay is still possible if image quality does not meet Apple’s stringent standards.

Performance Powerhouse – The A19 Bionic Chip Benchmarks

The A19 Bionic chip performance benchmarks reveal a massive leap in processing power. The A19 Bionic is built on TSMC’s N2 (2nm) process, a significant jump from the A18’s 3nm N3E node, according to leaker @Revegnus and supply-chain reports. Early engineering units tested on Geekbench 6 by anonymous leakers show a single-core score of approximately 3500 and a multi-core score of around 9500, compared to the A18’s scores of roughly 3200 and 8000 respectively. This represents a CPU improvement of 10 to 15 percent in single-core and up to 20 percent in multi-core performance. The GPU features new ray-tracing cores for console-level gaming and efficiency gains of 25 to 30 percent. The Neural Engine is upgraded to 40 TOPS, versus the A18’s 35 TOPS, enabling advanced on-device AI such as enhanced Siri, real-time translation, and computational photography.

Why this matters: The 2nm node drastically improves battery life, enabling under-display sensors to operate without draining power. This performance data forms the core of A19 Bionic chip performance benchmarks. Compared to the A18 chip in the iPhone 16 Pro, the A19 represents a much larger generational leap. This massive leap in chip performance is what we have been anticipating based on our analysis of the latest smartphone technology trends.

Release Date & Official Specs – What to Expect

All major analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo, Ross Young, and supply-chain sources, point to a Apple iPhone 18 Pro release date specs timeline of September 2026. The Pro models will launch alongside standard models. Expected specs from leaked hardware BOMs include:

• Display: 6.3-inch OLED for the Pro and 6.9-inch OLED for the Pro Max, both with LTPO T-OLED, 120Hz ProMotion, and peak brightness of 2500 nits.
• Under-Display Face ID: Standard on both Pro models, reiterating this as part of Apple iPhone 18 Pro release date specs.
• Camera: Triple 48-megapixel rear setup including main, ultrawide, and telephoto lenses, plus a new periscope lens offering 5x optical zoom as an upgrade over the current 5x limit on the Pro Max only.
• RAM: 12GB LPDDR5X, up from 8GB on the iPhone 17 Pro.
• Storage: Options for 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, with a 2TB option rumored.
• Battery: Approximately 4500mAh for the Pro model, slightly larger than the iPhone 17 Pro’s ~4000mAh due to 2nm efficiency gains.
• Port: USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 speeds.

These specs frame the complete Apple iPhone 18 Pro release date specs package, positioning the device as a flagship powerhouse.

The Upgrade Dilemma – iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Comparison

Directly addressing the commercial investigation, this iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro comparison helps readers decide whether to wait for the 18 Pro or buy the 17 Pro now. Here is a side-by-side comparison:

• Feature: Display. 17 Pro: 6.3-inch Dynamic Island with visible notch. 18 Pro: 6.3-inch true full-screen with no cutout.
• Feature: Chip. 17 Pro: A19 on 3nm N3P. 18 Pro: A19 on 2nm N2.
• Feature: Face ID. 17 Pro: Traditional TrueDepth with notch. 18 Pro: Under-display with potentially shorter range.
• Feature: Camera. 17 Pro: Triple 48-megapixel with 3x zoom. 18 Pro: Triple 48-megapixel with 5x periscope.
• Feature: RAM. 17 Pro: 8GB. 18 Pro: 12GB.
• Feature: Battery. 17 Pro: ~4000mAh. 18 Pro: ~4500mAh.
• Feature: Weight. 17 Pro: ~200g. 18 Pro: ~195g due to thinner display stack.

Decision advice:

• Wait for iPhone 18 Pro if you value a notch-free screen, 2nm performance, better zoom capabilities, and are willing to wait until late 2026.
• Buy iPhone 17 Pro now if you need a phone in 2025 and are okay with the Dynamic Island, as the A19 chip in the 17 Pro is still a huge leap over the A18.

Pros and Cons list:

iPhone 18 Pro Pros: True full-screen display, 2nm chip efficiency, 5x optical zoom, 12GB RAM, larger battery.

iPhone 18 Pro Cons: Potential first-gen under-display accuracy issues, must wait until 2026.

iPhone 17 Pro Pros: Available now, proven Dynamic Island design, still very fast A19 chip.

iPhone 17 Pro Cons: Notch remains, 8GB RAM, no periscope zoom beyond 5x for Pro Max only.

Sources & Reliability: The data above is derived from reports by Ross Young, Ming-Chi Kuo, and Mark Gurman. For a more immediate upgrade path while you wait, you might consider the features of the iPhone 17 series.

A Look at the Wider 2026 Lineup & Future Tech

The best new iPhone 2025 under display technology is centered on the 18 Pro series, as only these models will feature under-display Face ID. The standard iPhone 18, also launching in 2026, may retain the Dynamic Island due to cost and yield constraints, as noted by Ross Young in a February 2025 investor note. However, it will still receive the 2nm chip. The 18 Pro is framed as the pinnacle of Apple’s 2026 lineup, representing a design revolution not seen since the iPhone X. The standard 18 will not achieve the full-screen look. Looking ahead, under-display Touch ID might come on the iPhone SE 5 in 2026, but that is a separate development. Innovations like this are exactly why we are tracking the evolution of the smartphone market.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the iPhone 18 Pro under display Face ID features? The iPhone 18 Pro under display Face ID features involve moving the TrueDepth camera system beneath the OLED panel, enabling a true full-screen design without a notch or Dynamic Island.
• What are the A19 Bionic chip performance benchmarks? A19 Bionic chip performance benchmarks from early engineering units show a single-core score of approximately 3500 and a multi-core score of around 9500 on Geekbench 6, built on TSMC’s 2nm process.
• When is the Apple iPhone 18 Pro release date and what are the specs? The Apple iPhone 18 Pro release date specs point to a September 2026 launch, featuring a 6.3-inch OLED display, under-display Face ID, a triple 48MP camera with 5x periscope zoom, 12GB RAM, and a 4500mAh battery.
• How does the iPhone 18 Pro compare to the iPhone 17 Pro? In an iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro comparison, the 18 Pro offers a true full-screen display, 2nm chip, 12GB RAM, and 5x optical zoom, while the 17 Pro has a Dynamic Island, 3nm chip, 8GB RAM, and 3x zoom.
• Is the iPhone 18 Pro the best new iPhone 2025 under display technology? Yes, the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be the best new iPhone 2025 under display technology, delivering a notch-free screen with under-display Face ID, though it launches in 2026.
• Will under-display Face ID affect performance? The under-display Face ID may show reduced accuracy in direct sunlight as a first-generation implementation, but speed is expected to match current Face ID technology.