iPhone 18 Pro Alert: Screen Protector Issues Reported!

While many accessories for the iPhone 17 Pro are compatible with the iPhone 18 Pro, thanks to identical chassis dimensions, this is not the case for all screen protectors and films. Even those redesigned to accommodate the slimmer Dynamic Island might sometimes cause issues. As highlighted by tech reviewer Dave2D, the new infrared camera, which is embedded beneath the OLED panel’s pixels, can struggle to function properly through certain filters. Notably, with matte treatments like those used by Dave2D, the Face ID recognition feature may cease to function.

Changes to the Dynamic Island and Infrared Camera Placement

On the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple has narrowed the width of the Dynamic Island, which no longer houses the infrared camera. This component has been relocated to the left corner of the screen, below the time display. In this area, the pixels are more robust yet less dense, which allows the camera to operate through the screen. While this change is barely noticeable to the naked eye under normal conditions, the camera’s placement becomes evident when the iPhone is exposed to direct sunlight.

Advice for Using Screen Protectors

If you plan to use a matte screen protector or a privacy filter on your iPhone 18 Pro, it’s important to ensure beforehand that the product is certified to work well with the new configuration of the infrared camera. Some manufacturers who didn’t anticipate this change will need to modify their products to incorporate a second cut-out near the time display.