It appears that Apple is focusing on transforming its Pro iPhone lineup into a creator’s dream phone. We recently discovered a leak indicating that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to receive a DSLR-like upgrade with variable sensors.
Now, according to a Weibo post by tipster Whylab, the iPhone 18 Pro models will pack an upgraded 24MP selfie camera. The image shared by the tipster also shows a smaller Dynamic Island, something we have already seen in past leaks. The new Dynamic Island will house the camera, with the TrueDepth sensor and the 3D dot projector hidden under a transparent patch under the display.
Evolution of recent iPhone selfie cameras
For almost half a decade, Apple has used the same 12MP selfie camera, which it introduced with the iPhone 11 series in 2019. Apple updated the 12MP front-facing sensor with new features, including autofocus and the Photonic Engine for improved low-light performance, with the iPhone 14, but there was no hardware change.
It was last year’s iPhone 17 series that got the first major upgrade. Apple added a new 18MP selfie camera sensor with a square design, enabling features like Center Stage, improved selfie framing, and 4K 60fps video recording. The selfie camera update turned out to be a big hit and became one of the key factors driving the upgrade from older iPhones.
What does it mean for you?
If the leaks are correct, we would see a rare event of front-facing camera upgrades in consecutive years of iPhone launches after a long time. An upgraded front-facing camera will result in improved low-light performance, leading to better selfies and a better video-calling experience. Sadly, rumors suggest the upgrade will be limited to the iPhone 18 Pro pair.
If the rumors turn out to be true, the non-Pro iPhone 18 series models will not get the upgraded selfie cameras or the new variable format sensors. This will mark a departure from Apple’s strategy of using the same front-facing cameras in all its models.