iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Feature Smaller Dynamic Island, Claims Leaker

Apple's largest high-end model in the upcoming iPhone 17 series this year will feature a smaller Dynamic Island, according to Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Smaller Notch Feature
The leaker claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will adopt a "metalens" for Face ID that integrates the transmitter and receiver components, which will reduce the size and thickness of structural elements, resulting in a smaller Dynamic Island on the device. The technology will also be applied to the next iPad Pro and a rumored foldable iPad, reckons the leaker.

Unlike traditional iPhone cameras, which use curved lenses to bend light toward the image sensor, a metalens is an ultra-thin, flat lens with microscopic nano-structures that precisely control and focus light.

Conflicting Reports

Today's rumor goes against a January report by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that claimed the upcoming iPhone 17 models will not feature a smaller Dynamic Island. However, Kuo's report contradicts analyst Jeff Pu's prediction last year that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will adopt a metalens for Face ID that results in a "much narrowed" Dynamic Island on the device. Pu in 2024 reiterated the claim several times, and he has a fairly good track record with Apple rumors.

As for Digital Chat Station, they accurately revealed that the ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus would feature a slightly smaller 48-megapixel sensor than the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, as well as the display panel design of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 back in 2020.

Apple introduced the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro models in 2022, and it is also available on all iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, but the size has not changed in successive models. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series next September.

Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

EugW Avatar
9 months ago
But Apple says Dynamic Island is a feature, so why would they make it smaller?

/s
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
samachara Avatar
9 months ago
With a few more years of advances and shrinking, Dynamic Island will turn into Shutter Island.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kylo83 Avatar
9 months ago
This has to happen im so sick of notches and cut outs, its been years time to innovate
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
9 months ago
just put a fingerprint scanner in the camera button (yes, its a button) ... its not like they have not done it before (iPad)
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thefrost Avatar
9 months ago
Dynamic Dot? :D /s
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kiranmk2 Avatar
9 months ago
If a flat metalens is a thing, does this mean FaceID can finally be brought to the MacBook range?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)