If you’ve just shelled out more than a grand on the latest and greatest iPhone 18 Pro, chances are you’ve already whizzed on over to Amazon to grab yourself a screen protector to swaddle up that expensive bit of kit. But I’d recommend pausing before heading on down to the checkout.
This year, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max owners are going to have to be a little choosier about the screen protector they buy, thanks to a change Apple has made to the Face ID system on its latest flagship phones.
On 17 September, YouTuber Dave2D discovered that Face ID had stopped working after applying a matte screen protector to his iPhone 18 Pro Max, though it seemed to work fine with a transparent one.
The problem seems to be down to the new Dynamic Island design on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. In order to shrink the Dynamic Island down, Apple has placed the infrared camera used for Face ID underneath the display, while keeping the dot projector and flood illuminator inside the camera notch. That means the infrared light now has to pass through the display – and any screen protector you put on top of it.
Because of this, it appears some matte and anti-glare screen protectors are interfering with the infrared camera, stopping Face ID from working. Japanese publication ITmedia reported on 19 September that a number of accessory manufacturers had warned customers not to install screen protectors that weren’t explicitly compatible with the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max.
Apple has since updated its support site, acknowledging that privacy screen protectors may interfer with Face ID and advises to remove privacy covers if there are any issues.
That doesn’t mean you have to leave your iPhone 18 Pro unclothed. Right now, the safest bet is to buy a screen protector or privacy shield that’s explicitly described as compatible with the iPhone 18 Pro and Face ID, though clear protectors should generally be fine.
At the time of writing, Belkin is the only major brand we’ve found that ships in the UK and states its screen protectors have been designed for the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, specifically tested not to interfere with Face ID.
Read more: iPhone 18 Pro vs 17 Pro – is it worth the upgrade?
Belkin titan smartshield pro bright privacy screen protector
Belkin says its titan smartshield pro bright privacy screen protector has been designed not to interfere with Face ID, despite still featuring an anti-reflective privacy filter. Belkin sells versions for both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. For now, we’re still waiting for a matte iPhone 18 Pro screen protector that explicitly promises the same.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon.co.uk
Of course, Apple would argue that you don’t need a screen protector at all. Like the iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max feature Ceramic Sheild 2 glass on the front, which Apple says makes it three times more scratch resistant than the iPhone 16 Pro.
