A series of crucial design changes are arriving to the successive iPhone lineups, with a rumor claiming that the biggest aesthetic makeover will be applied to the 2027 models, which is already being referred to as the 20th anniversary version. Apple aims to place all the components, including the front-facing camera, behind the OLED panel, thereby offering a full-screen experience void of any cutouts or imperfections, but achieving this look can come with several drawbacks, and there is no guarantee that this change will be successful when employed on a massive scale.
For 2026, Apple will move closer to a full-screen iPhone, with the lineup sporting a punch-hole camera cutout
The iPhone 17 series, launching later this year, is said to flaunt a large matrix lens configuration, according to tipster Digital Chat Station. On Weibo, he lists all the potential changes arriving to each lineup based on the launch year, with the 2025 models receiving the most subtle appearance shift. The rumor does not mention if this large lens upgrade will arrive to the iPhone 17 Air, so we will keep our fingers crossed and wait for additional updates.
As for the iPhone 18 family, the tipster states that all the Face ID components, ranging from the dot projector and IR blaster, will be found underneath the OLED screen, with only the front-facing camera present at the top, bearing a punch-hole cutout, which is similar to other Android flagships. We are not sure how this design change will adversely affect the facial recognition accuracy of the Face ID components, but if this approach does not pass Apple’s stringent requirements, we should not be surprised that the company will drop the idea immediately.
As for the 2027 models, the front-facing camera and the Face ID components will be found under the display, delivering that ‘all screen’ experience and offering the perfect iPhone to the masses. For years, manufacturers, particularly Chinese firms, have tried to make under-screen cameras a widely adopted hardware change, but this has not been popularized because it degrades the image quality of both stills and videos. It is not mentioned how Apple will circumvent the limitation mentioned above, but there have been reports that the company was supposed to introduce a particular feature to an iPhone years ago.
Unfortunately, it took several releases for the technology titan to finally debut that specific hardware, so it is best to treat this rumor with a pinch of salt for now. A ton of things can go wrong during the development phase, forcing Apple to abandon that change completely.
News Source: Digital Chat Station
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