Aside from this controversial change, Apple is reportedly planning further design upgrades for the iPhone releases of 2026 and 2027.
A report (translated source) from inside the supply chain reveals that the iPhone 17’s large camera islands are just the start of Apple’s new upgrades.
The Face ID as well as the front selfie camera will be moved under the display, making for an iPhone with a truly full-screen front.
| Video credit — RedMagic 2027 will be the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, and Apple is expected to launch a new iPhone Pro model as well as the long-rumored foldable iPhone.
Naturally, like the rear camera islands on the iPhone 17 Pro, not all of these changes will be well received.
*Image courtesy of Majin Bu.
The iPhone 17 series is undergoing a redesign, as numerous reports from inside the smartphone industry have essentially confirmed for months. Apart from this contentious modification, it has been reported that Apple plans additional design enhancements for the 2026 and 2027 iPhone releases.
According to a report (translated source) from within the supply chain, Apple’s new improvements are just beginning with the large camera islands of the iPhone 17. The iPhone 18, which will be released in 2026, will have a punch hole in place of the Dynamic Island on the screen and move Face ID beneath it.
More significantly, I believe that the iPhone, which will be released in 2027, will finally have a screen free of cutouts. The iPhone will have a fully full-screen front thanks to the relocation of the Face ID and front selfie camera beneath the screen. I’ve been hoping for this for a very long time, especially since other phone manufacturers might do the same.
The RedMagic 10 Pro’s screen is free of cutouts. | RedMagic is the video’s creator.
A new iPhone Pro model and the long-rumored foldable iPhone are anticipated to be released by Apple in 2027, the year that the iPhone will celebrate its 20th anniversary. The new Pro model is reportedly going to emphasize a design that is primarily made of glass. Perhaps that new Pro model is the iPhone with a screen free of cutouts.
Notches on phone screens were first introduced by the Sharp Aquos S2 in 2017, and Apple helped popularize the trend. The majority of contemporary smartphones still use the punch hole design that was created as a result of this. I am eager for the industry to return to cutout-free screens because I am a person who will not compromise on a device’s display. It is hoped that by 2027, under-display cameras will be sufficiently advanced for Apple to stick with its current strategy.
I’m relieved that Apple is experimenting more with its phones after years of continuously releasing new iPhone models with the same design. Naturally, not all of these changes will be well received, just like the iPhone 17 Pro’s rear camera islands. Some people might even object to the removal of the punch hole cutouts and Dynamic Island.
On the other hand, I am eager to permanently remove notches and other distractions from phone displays.
