Apple's iPhone 19 Pro: Potential Design Revolution for iPhone's 20th Anniversary in 2027

Apple Preparing Major Redesign for Milestone Anniversary

According to a recent MacRumors article published on the 15th, Apple is reportedly planning significant design changes for the iPhone 19 Pro, which will coincide with the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027. Based on various rumors and industry reports, the anniversary model could finally realize the long-awaited "true full-screen iPhone" without any display cutouts.

Progressive Evolution Toward a Full-Screen Design

Dynamic Island Reduction Timeline

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has reported that Apple plans to apply a smaller Dynamic Island to iPhone Pro models either next year or in 2027. This change would involve moving components currently positioned at the front of the iPhone to beneath the display surface.

Under-Display Technologies Rolling Out in Phases

While it remains unclear which component will first move beneath the screen—the front-facing camera or the TrueDepth camera system that enables Face ID—display analyst Ross Young predicts that in-screen Face ID technology could arrive as early as next year.

If Young's forecast proves accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro could be the first to feature Face ID embedded under the display. In this scenario, the Dynamic Island would likely be reduced in size but remain present, with a small cutout housing only the front camera.

The final step in achieving the full-screen design would be relocating the front camera under the display, eliminating all cutouts entirely.

Technology Testing Across Multiple Product Lines

Foldable Device Development Serving as Test Platform

Apple is reportedly testing similar under-display technologies for its foldable device lineup. Sources indicate the company is developing an 18.8-inch foldable iPad, with at least one prototype featuring a metal lens that integrates Face ID components for under-display facial recognition.

In contrast, the foldable iPhone expected next year may take a different approach, reportedly using an under-display camera (UDC) for the front display while implementing Touch ID on the side button instead of Face ID. These varied approaches suggest Apple is exploring multiple solutions across its product range.

MacRumors reports that Apple may already possess the core technology needed to hide both the TrueDepth camera and front-facing camera beneath the display—a crucial requirement for achieving former Apple design chief Jony Ive's vision of an iPhone that resembles a single piece of glass.

Engineering Challenges Remaining

Display Technology Limitations

Despite the promising outlook, several engineering challenges must be overcome before a full-screen iPhone can be perfected. For Face ID to function properly under a display, its sensors, particularly the infrared sensors, must operate without interference from the overlying screen materials.

This presents significant difficulties with current OLED and LCD technologies, which tend to scatter or absorb infrared signals, potentially compromising facial recognition accuracy.

Emerging Technical Solutions

Several potential solutions are under development to address these challenges:

• Transparent OLED panels that allow infrared light to pass through designated areas, though current versions suffer from reduced brightness and clarity

• LTPO displays with temporarily disabled subpixels that could create windows for sensors during facial recognition

• Optical waveguide layers integrated into displays to exchange infrared signals while minimizing distortion

Apple's final implementation will likely combine multiple technologies to meet the company's stringent standards for privacy, performance, and visual consistency.

iPhone 19 Pro: Under-Display Camera Progress

UDC technology continues to advance across the industry, with several Android manufacturers already implementing early versions in commercial devices. According to reports from last year, Apple supplier LG Innotek is developing a specialized under-display camera solution that could meet Apple's requirements.

If successful, the iPhone 19 Pro could represent the culmination of Apple's design evolution, delivering the seamless, uninterrupted display that has been the company's aspiration since the iPhone's inception.