iPhone With Under-Screen Face ID: Here's What the Latest Rumors Say

[MacRumors]

When will the iPhone get under-screen Face ID? Rumors continue to surface.

In April 2023, display industry analyst Ross Young shared a roadmap showing that iPhone 17 Pro models would feature under-display Face ID. In May 2024, however, Young said he heard this change had been delayed until 2026. If so, that means that under-screen Face ID could debut on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max next year.

In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman offered a similar timeframe. He said that by 2026 or 2027, the Pro models should have a smaller Dynamic Island, as a result of Apple moving more components within it to under the display.

iPhone 18 Pro models with under-screen Face ID would presumably still have a pinhole at the top of the display for the front camera, similar to newer Android smartphones like Google's Pixel 9 and Samsung's Galaxy S25.

In the past, Young has said that he expects iPhones to eventually have both under-screen Face ID and an under-screen front camera. If so, the iPhone would finally have a true all-screen design, as Apple's former design chief Jony Ive dreamed of.

Article Link: iPhone With Under-Screen Face ID: Here's What the Latest Rumors Say

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I understand it's a natural progression to reduce the size of Dynamic Island, but can Apple really sell under-display Face ID as a feature with meaningful benefits? That area of the screen is used purely for the status bar, unless I'm missing something.

 

[MayaUser]

Next year Young will say he heard this change is delayed until 2027 and so on

 

[jz0309]

So, at some time in the future - great prediction, eh, rumor

 

[Cuesca]

I will just wait for the iPhone 19 Pro Max, my iPhone 3G is struggling to make a call though. It only works under wifi and takes 2-3 minutes to launch the phone app. Plus the battery only lasts 5 minutes, so I only get a good 30 seconds to 45 seconds of use out of it.

 

[cdsapplefan]

Tim Cook’s Apple 🍎: We’ll save that feature for next year. 🤑

 

[magicvash]

It will 100% happen at some point between now and 3025

 

[Kylo83]

What have they been doing for years this would have been innovation but no we get more camera buttons. If the 17 pro max doesn’t have a smaller cut out gonna be annoyed everything is years away, stop wasting time on useless stuff and do real innovation

 

[winxmac]

iPhone 17e - A19
iPhone 17 - A19
iPhone 17 Lite - A19
iPhone 17 Pro - A19 Pro
iPhone 17 Ultra - A19 Ultra/M4

 

[vegetassj4]

And all of the promised AI features will be released any day now….any day now

 

[nfl46]

So they keep moving the year. I love how Mark says 2026 or 2027. Don’t worry in 2026, he will move the year again…

 

[nfl46]

It will 100% happen at some point between now and 3025

Mark in 2025: it will happen in 2026 or 2027
Mark in 2026: it will happen in 2027 or 2028

…he will eventually get it right.

 

[mrr]

I just want to see the iPhone support the Apple Pencil.

 

[maxfromdenmark]

In case anyone had doubts, that little hole at the top of the screen is a ventilation opening so that Apple Intelligence can breathe.

 

[Aeronauts]

I hate that ugly Dynamic Island. The sooner it’s gone the better.

 

[HJM.NL]

I’m curious how long Apple can take the slow approach before people realize that they’ve to pay premium for features in hard- and software that are common for years now in midrange Android phones.

 

[t0rqx]

ChatGPT: Rewrite this article again for next week.

 

[Jake Jacobs]

Id rather have under screen touch ID...

 

[unchecked]

Mark in 2025: it will happen in 2026 or 2027
Mark in 2026: it will happen in 2027 or 2028

…he will eventually get it right.

So will Apple. Eventually.

I mean looking at how Apple Intelligence is delayed for the past year, I wouldn't be surprised one bit Apple Intelligence isn't the only thing being constantly pushed back.

As much as we like to say "Apple waits for tech to mature", maybe sometimes Apple doesn't release things because simply because they couldn't get it.

 

[I7guy]

I think the concept of the Dynamic Island is going to be an iOS staple for years. Maybe it will evolve, but I’ve come to like it.

 

[BotchQue]

I don’t see the point of under-screen Face ID, if there’s still a selfie camera on the screen. And a decent selfie camera “under the screen” (alluded to by the OP) would be a much bigger deal.

 

[SAIRUS]

In the eternal battle for optimization across the product line…why not put Touch ID in the power button like the iPads and just jump to the pin hole design like Android?

Face ID is fantastic for when staring directly at the device, but it really feels like when you just want to auth a payment and you have to angle the phone at a certain angle to get NFC to recognize the terminal, it feels a little off.

 

[wwetech]

I understand it's a natural progression to reduce the size of Dynamic Island, but can Apple really sell under-display Face ID as a feature with meaningful benefits? That area of the screen is used purely for the status bar, unless I'm missing something.

I just want to be able to watch videos with entire screen filled without the Dynamic Island in the way.

 

[Joshuaorange]

I haven’t seen a single phone with under screen camera that the screen where the hole is, didn’t look like crap. It’s a compromise no matter what. Unless you get rid of the narcissist camera.

 

[cdsapplefan]

I haven’t seen a single phone with under screen camera that the screen where the hole is, didn’t look like crap. It’s a compromise no matter what. Unless you get rid of the narcissist camera.

Samsung already has under screen camera technology to where the camera disappears when not in use and then reappears when ready to use and the picture quality is very good. Apple is just waiting till that technology matures and then will implement when it’s ready for showtime.