Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro appears poised to upgrade the Dynamic Island again — a leaker using Apple’s iOS 27 simulator has revealed code supporting three simultaneous Live Activities in the Dynamic Island. This build demonstrates what would be the first time the UI will juggle three live items instead of the two supported since the feature launched in 2022. The proof comes in the form of a video posted by leaker “pdfu.”
What the Leak Uncovers
In the video, the Dynamic Island is shown toggling between three live elements, matching prior predictions about the iPhone 18 Pro’s UI enhancements. The leaker explains that the accompanying code demands the device’s sensor cutout—or “sensor region”—be narrower than about 100 layout points, equivalent to under 16.57 mm, for this 3-item mode to function. In comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro’s Dynamic Island sensor region is roughly 20.76 mm, meaning a shrink of about 20% would be required.
Why It Might Matter
This would be the first major refinement of Dynamic Island’s live item limit since the iPhone 14 Pro. For years, users have been limited to watching two Live Activities interact in that space. Expanding to three could enhance multitasking at a glance — for example, following music playback, navigation, and health data all without switching screens.
The rumor aligns with long‐standing expectations that Apple would slim down the hardware around the front sensors in the new Pro models. Multiple sources have suggested the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a narrower screen cutout and refined sensor housing — this seems exactly the kind of hardware adjustment needed to support what the leaked code describes.
Of course, these findings come ahead of Apple’s rumored event on September 9, 2026, when the iPhone 18 Pro line is anticipated to debut. The video leak reinforces prior reporting around shrinking the Dynamic Island and adds specificity around the new multi‐Live Activity behavior.
Even with games like theater mode and hidden notches long predicted, features such as a 3-item Dynamic Island could be subtle but meaningful signals of Apple’s design priorities: prioritizing how much information can be displayed without breaking visual harmony. For users, this could be a convenience boost and a better use of otherwise static UI.
This change could extend beyond just visual polish. By placing three Live Activities in the Dynamic Island, Apple may also need to rethink how developers design their widgets and live interfaces — especially in terms of conciseness and visual clarity. Watch for how iOS 27’s final builds and Apple’s own presentations lead up to launch; they’ll determine whether this feature ships in full or is scaled back.
