Apple’s march toward a true full-screen iPhone is picking up steam, with fresh chatter suggesting the front camera and Face ID sensors could finally slip beneath the display by the time the 20th-anniversary model arrives. The big question is when that future actually lands: 2027, as some tipsters claim, or 2030, as a leading display analyst expects?
Here’s what the latest rumors say. A well-known Weibo leaker, Digital Chat Station, claims Apple plans to hide the front-facing camera under the display on its 2027 iPhones, completing the path to a bezel-only front. This follows his earlier hints that the iPhone 18 series, expected in 2026, may adopt a punch-hole cutout and even experiment with a transparent rear cover. He has also said the TrueDepth system powering Face ID would move under the panel, paving the way for an uninterrupted screen.
Naming could be part of the story, too. Although the 2027 lineup would ordinarily be called iPhone 19, a senior researcher believes Apple will brand it iPhone 20 to celebrate two decades since the original iPhone debuted in 2007. That same prediction points to as many as six models in the 2027 family. Aligning the name with the anniversary would make marketing sense and neatly underscore a generational design shift.
There’s an important counterpoint, however. Ross Young, the founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, argues Apple’s road to a notchless, fully under-display solution will unfold in three stages and won’t be finished until around 2030. Given his track record on display tech, that later timeline carries weight and suggests Apple may first implement partial under-panel elements before moving everything beneath the screen.
Why this matters
– A full-screen iPhone with an under-display camera and in-display Face ID would be the most dramatic visual change since iPhone X.
– The 20th-anniversary branding could become a marquee moment, signaling a design milestone and spurring Android rivals to accelerate their own under-display tech.
– A staged transition would let Apple refine image quality, brightness uniformity, durability, and sensor reliability before eliminating visible cutouts entirely.
How the timelines could play out
– 2026: iPhone 18 rumored to adopt a punch-hole design; whispers of a transparent rear cover.
– 2027: Anniversary lineup possibly called iPhone 20, with under-display front camera and in-display Face ID rumored by some sources; as many as six models.
– By 2030: Competing view suggests Apple completes the move to a truly notchless, full-screen design after a multistep transition.
Plausibility rating based on current information
– 41-60%: Plausible. Multiple rumors point to 2027 as a target for under-display components, but the most established display analyst forecasts a longer runway to 2030. Until Apple locks designs and production partners signal readiness at scale, a measured dose of skepticism is warranted.
Bottom line
If Apple ties its 20th-anniversary iPhone to a fully immersive display, 2027 could be a landmark year for smartphone design. Still, the industry realities of image quality, panel uniformity, and sensor performance may push the complete transition closer to 2030. For now, expect a steady step-by-step approach, with punch-hole designs first, then broader under-display integration as the technology matures.
