Apple Still Aiming for 20th Anniversary iPhone With All-Screen Display

[MacRumors]

Apple continues to test under-screen camera technology as it works toward a 20th-anniversary iPhone with an uninterrupted display, according to Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station.

Apple has long been rumored to be planning a major redesign for 2027. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported last May that the company is aiming for an all-glass device "without any cutouts in the display."

More recently, however, there have been signs that Apple's under-display ambitions could take longer to materialize. In January, display analyst Ross Young said the smaller Dynamic Island expected on this year's iPhone 18 Pro models is likely to persist through 2027. Just this week, leaker Fixed Focus Digital similarly claimed Apple is still facing challenges with under-display Face ID, and may instead focus on gradually shrinking the cutout.

Digital Chat Station's latest comments suggest a similar incremental approach. According to the leaker, Apple's roadmap moves from a smaller Dynamic Island with some Face ID components under the display – potentially for the iPhone 18 Pro – to a further reduced cutout with a hole-punch camera and fully under-display Face ID by 2027.

However, the timeline suggests the fully uninterrupted display could be reserved for a higher-end 20th-anniversary model. Indeed, Digital Chat Station says Apple is continuing to test an all-screen device with a quad-curved display that wraps around all four edges, creating a more borderless look.

For Apple to realize a true all-glass design, though, it will need to eliminate the remaining front-facing cutout entirely. Whether current under-display technologies can meet Apple's standards in time remains to be seen.

Article Link: Apple Still Aiming for 20th Anniversary iPhone With All-Screen Display

 

[t0rqx]

This smells like #UnderDisplayCameraGate. Pretty sure it won't work as intended and Apple ignoring all media complaints and fixes it in later generations only to say it needed the A23 an AI to filter the artifacts.

 

[johannnn]

Looking forward to it!

Right now I’m extremely happy with the 17 Pro. And I plan to get the 18 Pro this fall.

Together with a “snow leopard” release this fall it’s gonna be sweet!

 

[ikramerica]

That mockup looks ridiculous.

 

[macaron35]

there are so many smartphones with fingerprint reader under the screen, I don't understand why the iPhone still has a

 

[WarmWinterHat]

That mockup looks ridiculous.

Yea it is.

I don't need or want screen on the sides. What a terrible idea.

 

[syklee26]

.... and charge $2020

 

[joeblow7777]

That mockup looks ridiculous.

Yea it is.

I don't need or want screen on the sides. What a terrible idea.

I actually think it looks pretty cool...

But horribly impractical, and I wouldn't actually want to use it. It's like in sci-fi shows/movies where they always have these completely transparent tablets and displays. They look cool and futuristic, but they would be terrible to actually use.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Gurman says no. I mean yes. Oh wait.. Firm no. Wait wait... Definitive yes.

Gurman speaks, people laugh.

 

[ralph_sws]

new iPhone 18 max. wonderful omnidirectional screen, works until first drop, uuups

 

[Todashi]

They also need a serious leap in materials tech to create a prestige all glass phone that doesn't need a case, and can be kept in a pocket with car keys, coins etc and not get destroyed.

Maybe that's some variation of what's planned for the foldable phone, as that flexibilty in the hinge could translate into corners and edges that have some kind of plasticity that withstands abrasion, knocks and scuffs?

 

[gmarm]

Unless they come up with some engineering miracle, durability would go out the window with such a display. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[IIGS User]

We all know that Apple is legendary for hitting engineering goals lately.

 

[TheMacPotato]

why? its ridiculous. How do you even hold it? whats the purpose?

 

[kalsta]

So Apple’s going all glass software AND hardware? All glass, no class.

 

[nylon]

But why? Samsung did the wrap around edge screen thing and it was a bit of a gimmick. And there is no way to put a camera under the display without compromising the image quality. It's just physics.

 

[vanishing]

That edge could be a scrolling ticker;

AAPL price, OS26 install base numbers, revenue by category, inspirational quotes ‘privacy is a fundamental right’, ‘you’re gonna love it’

Even when it’s locked & sitting flat, you’ll always be receptive to The Message.

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

I love the idea of an all screen display. I have always wanted to have something like that.

 

[AppleFan91]

My guess is if they can't get the Under Display Face ID to work then they either use in-screen fingerprint or Touch ID in the power button as a stop gap, if they are truly hell bent on the all-display version coming next year for the 20th anniversary and if the tech just isn't ready yet.

 

[PixelPanics]

That mockup looks ridiculous.

We've been seeing this mockup since the iPhone 6 rumors

 

[Happy_John]

Apple continues to test under-screen camera technology as it works toward a 20th-anniversary iPhone with an uninterrupted display, according to Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station.

Apple has long been rumored to be planning a major redesign for 2027. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported last May that the company is aiming for an all-glass device "without any cutouts in the display."

Why keep using this rendered image for the stories about this supposed phone?

“Uninterrupted display”, “without any cutouts in the display” - the rendered image in the pic isn’t really representative of the main content in the article.

 

[Happy_John]

Yea it is.

I don't need or want screen on the sides. What a terrible idea.

To be fair, the new rumours in the article are not even suggesting that it’s a screen that wraps around the sides. Misleading picture to use.

 

[ipedro]

They also need a serious leap in materials tech to create a prestige all glass phone that doesn't need a case, and can be kept in a pocket with car keys, coins etc and not get destroyed.

Maybe that's some variation of what's planned for the foldable phone, as that flexibilty in the hinge could translate into corners and edges that have some kind of plasticity that withstands abrasion, knocks and scuffs?

Going back to the first iPhone, almost 20 years, I've never used a case. I've cracked one screen, got it replaced on Apple Care+. That's my "case" for fluke accidents and peace of mind. I don't keep my keys and coins in the same pocket as my phone. Basic care.

 

[kalsta]

Why keep using this rendered image for the stories about this supposed phone?

“Uninterrupted display”, “without any cutouts in the display” - the rendered image in the pic isn’t really representative of the main content in the article.

To be fair, the new rumours in the article are not even suggesting that it’s a screen that wraps around the sides. Misleading picture to use.

The article does say, “a quad-curved display that wraps around all four edges”.

 

[pcd213]

I would like to believe that this will come in time for the 20th anniversary device, but I am not optimistic.

What I don't understand about the 'curved screen' nature of this device is how it will function with phone cases. I am sure phone case usage is at a rate of 95%+. While I don't think the screen will be curved like in the image, I don't understand how phone cases will function with such a curved screen.

And, for what it's worth, I am not clamoring for a curved screen. I would love a screen without the Dynamic Island ever-present. I would love a brighter screen. I would love a higher resolution front facing camera. I would love to see them remove the bezels entirely. Lastly, I would love to see a anti-reflective screen like the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has. But I don't see the benefit in a screen to wrap around the edges.