iPhone 18 Pro Max design unit hands-on video shows 25% smaller Dynamic Island; variable aperture likely

The first physical detailed hands-on video with dummy units of the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max is here, and while the design remains largely unchanged compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it seems like Apple might be leaning heavily into "pro" camera hardware for this year’s premium iPhones.

The big change? Well, as previously rumored, Apple is finally making a move on the Dynamic Island’s successor - it’s another Dynamic Island… but smaller. The cutout housing the camera and Face ID sensors is reportedly shrinking by roughly 25%, measuring 14.98 mm wide compared to the previous 20.06 mm.

While the new iPhone 18 Pro Max is slightly thicker (possibly to accommodate a larger battery), the reduced sensor footprint on the display marks the most visible upgrade for Apple’s 2026 flagship since iPhone 14 Pro.

iPhone 18 Pro Max design units reveal smaller Dynamic Island; thicker body hints at variable aperture camera, larger battery

Another physical change lies in the camera plateau. The individual camera lenses are now 3% thicker, protruding nearly a full millimeter further than previous generations. The diameter of each lens has also expanded from 16.15 mm to 16.5 mm, reducing the empty space between the sensors. This might be hinting at the long-rumored variable aperture feature coming to iPhone 18 Pro, which might need the extra room.

That aside, the hands-on reveals the solid aluminum design models of the iPhone 18 Pro Max are slightly taller and wider than the current 17 Pro Max, though the increase is minimal enough that existing cases may still fit. This depends on the accuracy of the dummy models.

Apple’s premium iPhone 18 Pro models look boring next to the foldable iPhone Ultra

Finally, we must highlight that these iPhone Ultra/Fold design units are deemed accurate by the reviewer due to the fact that their April 2025 preview of the iPhone 17 lineup (using dummy units from the same source) proved to be remarkably accurate.

In fact, those early models ended up being a near-perfect reflection of the final hardware Apple released in September 2025. That said, as with any unconfirmed leak, a healthy dose of skepticism is still very much encouraged.

iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are expected to debut this fall, together with the foldable iPhone Ultra, which might make Apple’s premium slabs look more boring than ever. Meanwhile, the vanilla iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, and iPhone 18e should launch in the spring of 2027.