Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station on Monday claimed Apple is testing under-display Face ID on a prototype iPhone 18 Pro model sporting a single hole-punch camera in its display.
The leaker says Apple is testing under-display 3D facial recognition for both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, which are expected to launch in 2026.
Digital Chat Station and its sources have proven to be accurate in the past, and the leaker’s current claims jibe with reports by sources such as The Information, which this weekend said Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro models will likely boast under-screen Face ID.
Apple is facing a major engineering challenge, as the company will need to integrate complex infrared facial recognition sensors beneath the iPhone’s OLED display without compromising accuracy or reliability.
Face ID requires more than just a simple front-facing camera, as it relies on projecting thousands of infrared dots to create a detailed map of the user’s face. OLED panels normally block or scatter the infrared light, making it difficult for the system to work properly.
Apple is reportedly testing various ways to allow more IR light through specific parts of the display while minimizing distortion and maintaining image fidelity. Plus, the new Face ID system would need to be as secure and fast as the iPhone’s current Face ID system.
The front-facing camera reportedly uses a single HIIA (hole-in-active-area) hole punch in the active display area.
Digital Chat Station says the iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18 Air models will continue to use the current two front-facing sensor holes and one for the camera, concealed within the Dynamic Island.
