According to a leak from Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will adopt metalens technology for its Face ID system, integrating the signal emitter and receiver into a single structure. This approach will reduce both the size and thickness of the components.
As a result, Dynamic Island will also be more compact on the device. Beyond the iPhone, this technology is expected to be introduced in the next-generation iPad Pro and a rumored foldable iPad model.
Unlike traditional iPhone lenses, which use curved glass to direct light onto image sensors, metalens is an ultra-thin, flat lens. Its nanoscale structure allows precise control and focus of light, according to MacRumors.
However, this rumor contradicts a report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in January, where he stated that the iPhone 17 lineup would not feature a smaller Dynamic Island. Kuo’s claim also opposes a previous prediction from analyst Jeff Pu in 2024.
Jeff Pu has repeatedly forecasted that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will utilize metalens technology for Face ID, significantly shrinking Dynamic Island. He has a strong track record of accurately predicting Apple’s products.
According to MacRumors, Digital Chat Station is a well-known name in the tech leak community. In the past, they correctly reported that the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus would use a smaller 48MP sensor than the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max. They were also the first to reveal details about the iPhone 12’s screen design in 2020.
Dynamic Island first debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022 and was later expanded to the entire iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 lineup. However, its size has remained unchanged across generations. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 series in September.
