Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 3 hrs ago
iPhone 18 Pro’s under-display Face ID camera can cause slight screen discoloration
Apple moved the iPhone 18 Pro’s Face ID camera under the screen to make room for a smaller Dynamic Island.
The camera sits beneath the top-left corner of the OLED display, where wider gaps between pixels let infrared light pass through so Face ID can work.
Those gaps can sometimes make the area look slightly discolored or pixelated, especially when the clock is visible.
The screen effect is part of the design, not a fault with the phone.
The smaller Dynamic Island can show three Live Activities at once, compared with two on the original version.
Some users barely notice the change, while others find it distracting, and the effect is subtle enough that it may be hard to see without close inspection.
The iPhone 18 Pro’s under-display Face ID camera can make a small area of the screen look discoloured or pixelated.
Apple placed the infrared camera beneath the top-left corner of the OLED display to make the Dynamic Island smaller.
The modified pixel layout allows infrared light to pass through so Face ID can work.
The effect is subtle but can sometimes be seen near the clock, especially against a solid white background.
Users cited by TechRadar differ on whether the screen change is noticeable or distracting.
- Who
- Apple moved the iPhone 18 Pro’s Face ID infrared camera beneath the display.
- What
- The camera’s modified pixel area can cause slight visible discoloration or pixelation.
- When
- The change was announced in September; the article was published on November 5, 2026.
- Where
- Beneath the top-left corner of the iPhone 18 Pro’s OLED display.
- Why
- To make the Dynamic Island smaller while allowing infrared light to pass through for Face ID.
Users who notice and dislike the screen effect
Users who do not find it noticeable
Visibility
Users who notice and dislike the screen effect
Some say they clearly notice the screen disparity or find it distracting.
Users who do not find it noticeable
Some say they have not noticed it, or only see it against a solid white background.
Trade-off
Users who notice and dislike the screen effect
One user said they would prefer a larger Dynamic Island to an obvious screen disparity.
Users who do not find it noticeable
The article says the smaller Dynamic Island is an improvement and describes the effect as subtle.
Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and its smaller Dynamic Island.
The TechRadar writer says they noticed the under-display camera when using the iPhone 18 Pro for the first time.
TechRadar published an article explaining the visible screen effect.
- Phone
- iPhone 18 Pro
- Camera location
- Beneath the top-left corner of the OLED panel
- Display effect
- Modified pixel layout with larger gaps to let infrared light pass through
- Dynamic Island
- Can display three Live Activities at once, compared with two on the original
- Article publication
- November 5, 2026
What people are saying
I haven’t noticed it at all. Zero difference to me
I usually only notice it when the black text of the clock is sitting directly on a solid white background, which isn't very often.
This really bothers me; I always notice it whenever I look at that part of the display
I’d much rather have a larger Dynamic Island than an obvious screen disparity.