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iPhone 18 Pro Face ID fails with matte screen protectors due to under-screen sensor design
iPhone 18 Pro owners reported Face ID malfunctions and device reboots when using matte screen protectors. The issue stems from Apple's under-screen sensor design in the redesigned Dynamic Island, which has reduced tolerance for screen obstruction.
18 September 2026 · Apple · Reliability and hallucination
Some iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max owners reported that Face ID failed or froze when matte screen protectors were applied to the device.
Reports began appearing within days of the phones reaching customers in South Korea, the US and other markets, with users describing failed Face ID attempts followed by device freezes or reboots.
Reported impact
One US owner reported about five forced reboots, mostly after Face ID attempts. Another iPhone 18 Pro Max owner said the phone restarted three times during Face ID use and once while loading Apple Wallet within the first 24 hours.
Index analysis
The iPhone 18 Pro has a redesigned Dynamic Island with the TrueDepth camera positioned at the top of the device towards the left corner in an under-screen sensor design.
Matte screen protectors reportedly impede the TrueDepth camera's ability to recognize faces, causing Face ID failures. The narrower Dynamic Island design may have reduced sensor tolerance for obstruction.