Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Since this article was published, The Information came out with a report citing multiple sources who said that at least one new iPhone model launching in 2027 will have a truly edge-to-edge display. The device's front camera and Face ID system would both be placed under the screen. Original article follows.


Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself.

Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad
Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no display cutout for its premium 20th anniversary model.

The Road to All-Screens

Gurman recently reported that the Pro models are expected to gain a smaller Dynamic Island in 2026 or 2027, as Apple moves more of its front-facing components beneath the display. While it's not yet clear whether the selfie camera or the TrueDepth system behind Face ID will make the move first, display analyst Ross Young has said under-screen Face ID is currently slated to arrive in 2026.

That would mean under-display Face ID could debut as early as next year, in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. In that scenario, the Dynamic Island would shrink but remain, housing a front-facing camera via a small cutout. The next logical step – for 2027's flagship – would be to move that camera under the display as well, finally achieving the full-screen design that has long been rumored. That progression aligns with Young's display roadmap, which has predicted this shift since 2023.

Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID Single Camera Hole
Backing this up, Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station recently claimed the next two iPhone generations – iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 – will both retain the Dynamic Island. But for the 2027 model, Apple may be on track to complete its transition to a seamless display.

Foldable Innovations

Apple is reportedly already testing the technologies that could make this possible. The company is developing an 18.8-inch foldable device, and one prototype is said to feature a "metal superstructure lens" that integrates the transmitter and receiver components used for Face ID, enabling facial recognition under the display.

Meanwhile, the long-rumored foldable iPhone, which could launch as soon as next year, reportedly uses an under-display front-facing camera and forgoes Face ID entirely, instead relying on Touch ID built into the side button. If accurate, that would signal Apple is actively experimenting with multiple under-display camera systems across its product lines – some with Face ID, some without.

Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1
Together, these developments suggest Apple may already have the foundational technologies in place to hide both the TrueDepth system and selfie camera beneath the screen – key requirements for a truly all-screen iPhone. That would set the stage for a major design milestone in 2027, in line with what former design chief Jony Ive long envisioned.

Engineering Advances

Of course, this all depends on Apple overcoming some significant engineering hurdles. For Face ID to work under the display, its sensors – especially those that use infrared light – need to operate without interference from the display layers above them. That's difficult with current OLED and LCD technology, which tend to scatter or absorb infrared signals.

There are, however, several emerging display solutions that might enable this. Transparent OLED panels can allow infrared light to pass through specific areas of the screen, though current implementations suffer from reduced brightness and clarity. LTPO displays with subpixels that can temporarily deactivate may also allow sensors to "see" through the panel during authentication.

Another possibility involves integrating optical waveguide layers into the display to channel infrared signals to and from the sensors with minimal distortion. Apple could also incorporate advanced IR-pass materials to create invisible sensor zones that preserve display quality while enabling accurate facial recognition.

faceidscaniphonex
It's likely that a future under-display Face ID system would require a combination of these technologies to meet Apple's high standards for privacy, performance, and visual consistency.

As for the front camera, industry progress is further along. Several Android phones already feature under-display selfie cameras, and Apple has reportedly been working on its own solution for some time. According to an April 2024 report, LG Innotek – one of Apple's Korean suppliers – is developing under-display cameras that leave no visible hole when inactive. These systems use a "freeform optic" multiple lens array designed to reduce image distortion and improve brightness, compensating for the light loss that typically occurs when a camera sits behind a display.

20th Anniversary iPhone

iphone x front back feature 1
If Apple intends to mark the iPhone's 20th anniversary with a hardware leap on the scale of 2017's iPhone X – which removed the Home button and introduced Face ID in a top-screen notch – then a true all-screen design would certainly make a splash.

As for naming, it's unclear whether Apple will stick with its annual numbering pattern, which would put us at iPhone 19 in 2027, or choose a commemorative name like "iPhone 20" to align with the milestone year – just as it introduced the iPhone 8 and the radically redesigned iPhone X side by side in 2017.

Either way, a full-screen, all-glass iPhone would be a fitting way to celebrate two decades of Apple's most iconic product.

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Top Rated Comments

guzhogi Avatar
5 weeks ago
I just had flashbacks to the 20th Anniversary Mac. Now that was a good looking computer back in the day!



Attachment Image
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DavidLeblond Avatar
5 weeks ago
Built for Apple Intelligence*

* some features shipping later
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrbobdobolina Avatar
5 weeks ago
It's fun to watch what gets prioritized from a consumer perspective.
- "We need to make this device thinner than practical."
- "We need to make this screen larger."
- "We need to ensure that the camera sticks out far enough that some people will complain about it."
- "We need the screen to cover every spare nanometer of the phone."

Me: I'd like a phone that fits in my hand, sits flat on a table, and has good battery life.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Enrico77 Avatar
5 weeks ago

because it sucks? ?

I’m only half joking. I know a lot of folks love face ID, but i’m not one of them. Hate it. Much preferred touch ID.
In reality, each has its pros and cons. Touch ID is useless with wet fingers or gloves. Face ID? Try using it with a helmet — or better yet, a VR headset while you’re hunting for a password on your iPhone (lol). Honestly, having both, with seamless unlock if either works, would be way more useful. You know, just incidentally more helpful than spending years chasing a few extra pixels on the screen.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cocky jeremy Avatar
5 weeks ago
I didn't mind the notch and I don't mind the dynamic island, but all glass will look amazing whenever it happens.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iPay Avatar
5 weeks ago
I Scream, You Stream, We All Scream for All-Screen !
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)