55%
Plausible
The four flagships that we typically see launch from Apple in the third quarter of every year could be reduced to three handsets, as the company is not just experimenting with a revamped strategy that includes the iPhone Fold, but it is also rumored to change the iPhone 18 design extensively from the front and back. One of the biggest aesthetic shifts rumored to arrive next year is in-screen Face ID, and with all the TrueDepth camera components found underneath the OLED panel, it is possible that all of Apple’s high-end models sport just a punch-hole cutout in 2026.
The testing of Apple’s iPhone 18 lineup will involve the ‘splicing of micro-transparent glass’
Previous rumors have stated that the iPhone 18 series will have a slightly transparent back glass, with Apple supposedly dropping the two-tone color scheme in favor of something else. On Weibo, Smart Pikachu has mentioned that the components assembled for next year’s iPhone models indicate that Apple is testing in-screen Face ID through a process involving the splicing of micro-transparent glass. Some of the Cupertino firm’s competitors have experimented with incorporating front-facing cameras beneath the display.
While this approach offers a full-screen smartphone experience with no visible cutouts, the front sensor produces less than stellar image quality as a direct consequence of being embedded behind the OLED panel. Assuming Apple is testing in-screen Face ID on the iPhone 18 family, it remains to be seen if the TrueDepth camera’s authentication capabilities or accuracy will be compromised. The display can interfere when recognizing a person’s face, but that’s where Apple’s software magic can come into play.
Unfortunately, the rumor does not go in-depth on how the company will make this possible. However, we cannot count out this rumor just yet because the potential design change arriving to the iPhone 18 series is a part of Apple’s ambitious plan to introduce a ‘full screen’ iPhone model that will be void of any cutouts and will sport razor-thin bezels. It is rumored that this specific device will be a part of the company’s 2027 releases, with Apple reportedly naming the lineup as the iPhone 20 instead of iPhone 19 to commemorate its 20th anniversary launch.
News Source: Smart Pikachu
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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