The quest to offer an ‘all display’ iPhone has commenced, but Apple has slowly been progressing to that stage where its devices no longer feature cutouts of any sort. We first saw the notch debuted on the iPhone X, followed by a smaller notch on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Next, the company switched things up with the Dynamic Island. For the truly ‘bezel-less’ iPhone, LG Innotek has been added to the suppliers' list that will reportedly supply Apple with the under-display camera (UDC), but the first wave of ‘all-screen’ iPhones are not expected to arrive this early.
iPhones sporting the under-display camera are not expected to launch until after 2026
The majority of phone makers have yet to adopt under-display cameras on their handsets due to the degradation in image quality. According to The Elec, LG Innotek aims to nullify this massive drawback by developing a special lens called ‘Freeform Optic.’ This lens can overcome the limitations of existing UDC, with the module sporting multiple lenses that include a ‘free curve’ shape on one or more surfaces.
LG Innotek has been publishing patents for this technology since December 2022, with more expected now that development has kicked off. LG Display has also seemingly started development, with the manufacturer’s primary aim being to increase the UDC’s light transmittance to 20 percent by 2023 and 40 percent after 2024. Apple likely wants these under-display cameras to perform equivalent to regular selfie shooters, so it can be a while before we see the first iPhone models in action with this drastic hardware change.
At the earliest, the first iPhone to sport an under-display camera will launch after 2026, meaning that the technology may not debut until after the iPhone 18 family. Even then, the report does not guarantee this launch timeline, especially when Apple will probably experience a multitude of hurdles in perfecting the first iteration. Before that, we might see the technology giant incorporate under-display Face ID, meaning that a punch-hole camera can be adopted first.
As it so happens, Apple has been rumored to be testing out a punch-hole camera for the iPhone 16 prototype, but in the end, Dynamic Island will probably take its place. Hopefully, we will get to see the first models with an under-display camera soon, and then we can provide comparisons of their image quality.
News Source: The Elec
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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