It seems a near certainty that Face ID will be embedded into the display of the iPhone 18 Pro, and a new report says that the front-facing camera will likewise be hidden beneath the screen in a 2027 iPhone.
That would suggest that a 20th anniversary iPhone could be the first with an all-screen display, free from any form of cutout …
Apple’s long-term goal with the iPhone is believed to be what former design chief Jony Ive referred to as “a single slab of glass.” That is, no visible bezels and no cutouts in the display.
It’s been widely speculated that the company would make an all-out effort to achieve something matching this description for a 20th anniversary iPhone in 2027. That would require the company to embed both Face ID module and front-facing camera beneath the screen.
In-display Face ID
We know from Apple patents that the company has been working on in-display Face ID for a number of years. The idea is to embed both the dot transmitter and receiver beneath the display, so that the tech no longer requires a cutout. Once this can be achieved, Apple can drop the Dynamic Island, replacing it with a single punch-hole for the front-facing camera.
Multiple credible reports have pointed to Apple introducing this tech in next year’s iPhone 18 Pro thanks to solving one of the core problems with the tech.
That would see the current Dynamic Island replaced by a punch-hole camera.
In-screen front-facing camera
Embedding the front-facing camera beneath the display is a bigger challenge.
Although this has been technically possible for some time, it has come with a substantial quality hit. Android prototypes with this feature have revealed photos with poor levels of contrast and detail as the light passes through the display layers. Given the emphasis Apple places on iPhone camera quality, this has not been a viable option so far.
However, a leaker with a good track record today suggests that Apple will finally make the move in 2027. Digital Chat Station says that the company plans to embed the camera under the screen alongside Face ID in at least one iPhone.
Apple’s plan for an under-screen front-facing camera is for 2027.
9to5Mac’s Take
There’s good reason to expect embedded Touch ID in the iPhone 18 Pro next year, and there’s also no doubt that Apple’s longer-term plan is to be able to hide the front-facing camera beneath the screen too.
A special edition 20th anniversary iPhone would be a logical time to do it. Rather than being branded the iPhone 19 Pro, the company may instead choose to use distinctive branding to celebrate the achievement, along the lines of the iPhone X and iPhone Air.
While I very much hope this will be the case, it should be noted that the company has not paid too much attention to its anniversaries in the past. Apple launches technology when it considers it to be good enough to meet its standards rather than to hit specific deadlines. For now, then, I’m putting this in the “would be nice” category rather than considering it a reliable prediction.
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