iPhone 18 Pro Max hides Face ID under the display, but matte screen protectors cause problems
Dave Lee (Dave2D) has flagged a compatibility problem with the iPhone 18 Pro Max's under-display Face ID system in his review of the device. According to Lee, matte or etched screen protectors that cover the sensor area in the upper-left corner of the display can prevent Face ID from working reliably, while clear protectors do not cause the same issue.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max moved the Face ID infrared camera under the OLED panel this generation, replacing the Dynamic Island's larger pill-shaped cutout with a smaller cutout for the front camera. Apple uses technology similar to that used for under-screen cameras: a lower-density region of the OLED panel allows light to pass through, enabling the IR camera to scan your face without a dedicated opening.
Lee said that after applying a matte screen protector, Face ID stopped working, which isn't surprising. A textured or frosted coating scatters the IR pattern that the sensor needs for face mapping, whereas a clear protector allows more of that light to pass through with less distortion. His recommendation for buyers is to stick with a clear screen protector, not a matte or privacy protector, to keep Face ID working as expected on the iPhone 18 Pro Max and, by extension, the iPhone 18 Pro.
This is the first widely reported real-world problem with Apple's under-display Face ID implementation. It echoes similar issues faced by Android phones with under-display optical fingerprint sensors, as matte protectors can interfere with sensor accuracy.
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