iPhone 18 Pro Max: Every New Leak and Rumor as of February 28, 2026 — Samsung Sensor, Under-Display Face ID, Deep Red Color

The iPhone 18 Pro Max rumor machine is running at full speed today. Several fresh leaks dropped this week that were not part of earlier reporting, including a bombshell about Samsung replacing Sony as Apple's camera sensor supplier, new under-display Face ID details, and a signature deep red color that could define the entire iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Here is every new development as of February 28, 2026.

NEW: Samsung Building Three-Layer Camera Sensor Exclusively for iPhone 18

This is the biggest new leak of the week and one that nobody saw coming. Samsung is working on a new three-layer stacked image sensor reportedly intended for the iPhone 18. The sensor, referred to as PD-TR-Logic, integrates three layers of circuitry which would improve camera responsiveness, reduce noise, and increase dynamic range. The leak comes from a source known as "Jukanlosreve," who claims the sensor is being developed specifically for Apple's 2026 iPhone lineup. Sony has long been Apple's sole image sensor supplier, so Samsung's entry would be a big shift in the iPhone's camera supply chain.

If confirmed, this would end one of the longest exclusive supplier relationships in consumer electronics history. Sony has produced the image sensors inside every iPhone camera for over a decade, and Samsung stepping into that role for the iPhone 18 Pro Max represents a seismic shift in how Apple's most profitable product gets built.

NEW: Under-Display Face ID Confirmed by Multiple Sources — Dynamic Island Finally Shrinking

Two separate developments on the display front landed this week. To reduce the size of the Dynamic Island, Apple may shift certain Face ID components beneath the display panel. Reports suggest that the dot illuminator, a key part of Face ID, could move under the screen. At the same time, Apple could use improved camera miniaturisation techniques to shrink the front-facing camera module.

Apple is said to be shrinking the cutout at the top of the screen by relocating Face ID components under the display, resulting in a cleaner front surface and more screen real estate. Whether this results in a true punch-hole camera or just a dramatically smaller Dynamic Island remains the key debate — but the consensus now firmly points to the smallest front cutout ever on a Pro iPhone.

NEW: Deep Red "Burgundy" Color Confirmed as Flagship Shade for iPhone 18 Pro Max

Color-wise, a striking new report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg adds precision to what was previously described only as a "deep red" finish. Bloomberg's Gurman reported February 22, 2026, that Apple is testing a "deep red" finish as the flagship color for the iPhone 18 Pro models. Described as a rich burgundy reminiscent of OPI's Big Apple Red, the shade would join or potentially replace Cosmic Orange from the iPhone 17 Pro lineup. Gurman noted Apple may retain some existing tones while introducing red as a signature option, offering more variety than the typical three-color Pro lineup.

Deep red tones are reportedly in testing, potentially marking the first time such a vibrant finish appears on Apple's Pro-tier handsets. The burgundy color is expected to generate enormous consumer demand — red has historically been one of Apple's most commercially successful iPhone finishes whenever it has appeared in the lineup.

Apple March 4 Event Coming — But iPhone 18 Pro Max Is Not On the Agenda

As Apple prepares for its March 4, 2026, special event focused on lower-end devices and software updates, leaks about the iPhone 18 Pro Max — expected to launch in September 2026 — have accelerated, with supply chain reports pointing to test production underway. The March 4 event is expected to focus on the iPhone 17e, new iPad models, and possibly Apple Watch updates — not the Pro lineup.

Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year, adopting a two-phase rollout starting with the iPhone 18 series. That means the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Fold will be released in September 2026, followed by the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e in spring 2027. The March 4 event will be the first public indicator of how Apple plans to position its 2026 product calendar before the September Pro reveal.

Camera Control Button Being Simplified to Cut Costs

One unexpected new detail concerns a quiet downgrade rather than an upgrade. Apple is reportedly working to simplify the Camera Control button's design on iPhone 18 models in order to reduce costs. The current Camera Control button on iPhone 17 models uses both capacitive and pressure sensors beneath a sapphire crystal surface. However, Apple will remove the capacitive sensing layer and retain only pressure sensing recognition in the second iteration to achieve all Camera Control functions. The change removes gesture-based swipe controls from the Camera Control button — a trade-off that enthusiast photographers who rely on the feature will likely push back against.

Full iPhone 18 Pro Max Spec Rundown: Everything Known Today