iPhone 18 Pro Reportedly Adds Support For Three Simultaneous Live Activities

Apple’s Kaiann Drance, vice president of iPhone Product Marketing, described the redesign as “smaller, more useful, and even better for seeing live information at a glance.”
The leaked implementation would require the sensor region to shrink from about 20.76 mm on the iPhone 17 Pro to less than 16.57 mm—roughly a 20% reduction—to activate the three-activity layout.
Live Activities originally debuted with the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022; users can tap the Dynamic Island to open a pop-up with more detailed information about an activity.
Beyond the Dynamic Island changes, the iPhone 18 Pro is reported to use an A20 Pro chip made with TSMC’s 2-nanometer process, while a mechanical-aperture lens is expected to be exclusive to the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max shrunk the Dynamic Island and packed in a powerful upgrade: users can now track three Live Activities at once, up from two. The Apple Post reports the redesigned island displays flight status, navigation, sports scores, timers, and ride arrivals without opening an app. The smaller hardware also hints at a major Face ID redesign hiding beneath the surface.
The changes appeared in leaked iOS 27 simulator code before Apple's September 9 unveiling. Android Headlines confirms the Dynamic Island was redesigned to create more room for live information while maintaining the sensor hardware that powers Face ID. This marks the first major refresh to the feature since it debuted on iPhone 14 Pro in 2022.
Apple cut the Dynamic Island width from roughly 20.76 mm on iPhone 17 Pro down to less than 16.57 mm—a 20% reduction. Mac Observer explains Apple shrank the island without removing Face ID sensors, suggesting the company engineered more compact hardware underneath. The narrower sensor region triggers the three-activity layout in code, proving the shrink was intentional and precise.
Users can now tap and switch between three simultaneous Live Activities instead of two. CNET reports the upgraded Dynamic Island lets people monitor multiple events at the top of their screen—a flight, navigation directions, and a sports score all at once. Tapping the island opens a pop-up with deeper details about each activity.
Gadget Review notes this feature eliminates the need to open apps constantly for quick status checks. Live Activities show time-sensitive updates in real time, making the iPhone interface faster for multitaskers. The three-activity slot was tested extensively in the iOS 27 simulator before the public launch.
The smaller Dynamic Island points to Apple's longer-term goal: eliminating the cutout entirely through under-screen Face ID technology. Apple has been working toward this for years, Mac Observer reports. Live Activities will likely remain a core feature even after the island disappears, giving users a dedicated zone for at-a-glance updates.
The iPhone 18 Pro uses an A20 Pro chip built on TSMC's cutting-edge 2-nanometer process, delivering faster speeds and better battery efficiency. Android Headlines confirms the processor outpaces the previous generation. The iPhone 18 Pro Max gets an exclusive mechanical-aperture lens for more advanced photography control, separating the Pro models from the standard iPhone 18.
Publishers
14
Articles
10
Reach
24