Apple is set to integrate its front-facing camera beneath the screen of its 2027 iPhone, eliminating visible cutouts on its 20th anniversary model. The development of this under-screen camera technology is on track, following the expected introduction of under-screen Face ID on the iPhone 18 Pro.
While several Android devices already feature under-display cameras, they often suffer from reduced image quality due to the camera’s position behind the screen layers. Apple has been cautious, working on a solution that could debut with its first foldable iPhone next year.
Reports from April 2024 indicate that LG Innotek, a Korean supplier for Apple, is developing under-display cameras without visible holes when inactive. These systems utilize a “freeform optic” lens array to minimize image distortion and enhance brightness, addressing the typical light loss of cameras positioned behind displays.
It’s uncertain if LG Innotek’s technology will be part of the foldable iPhone, but JP Morgan suggests the foldable will feature a 24-megapixel camera under the inner display—an industry first. This advancement implies significant improvements in light transmittance and image quality.
Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone might also showcase a radical redesign with a bezel-less display curving around all four edges. Speculation suggests Apple will skip the “iPhone 19” name, similar to the 2017 launch of the iPhone X, which bypassed the iPhone 9.
