Apple has long envisioned an iPhone with a truly seamless, all-screen front, eliminating bezels and display cutouts entirely. It appears this ambitious goal is finally within reach, with recent reports suggesting the transition will unfold over the next few years, culminating in a groundbreaking design around 2027.
According to well-connected analysts like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and reports from publications such as The Information, Apple is planning a multi-stage approach to achieve this ‘monolithic’ all-glass look.
Stage 1: Refining the Display Next Year (Likely 2026)
The first significant step towards a seamless display is expected with next year’s iPhone models (presumably the iPhone 18 generation). Reports offer slightly different visions for this initial phase:
Mark Gurman suggests Apple will shrink the size of the Dynamic Island on these new models.
Other reports, including insights from The Information’s Wayne Ma, indicate that Apple might move the Face ID components underneath the display, leaving only a small, visible circular hole specifically for the front-facing camera.
While the exact implementation for “next year” is debated among sources, the consensus points to a reduction in the current visible display cutout area, laying the groundwork for future advancements. This continues the evolution seen from the notch (iPhone X, 2017) to the Dynamic Island (iPhone 14 Pro, 2022).
Stage 2: The All-Screen Milestone (Likely 2027)
The most dramatic transformation is anticipated the following year, potentially aligning with the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone’s launch in 2007. The iPhone model arriving in 2027 is tipped to be the first to achieve a truly edge-to-edge, all-screen design with no visible cutouts whatsoever.
This leap will be made possible by integrating both the Face ID sensors and the front camera entirely underneath the display. This sophisticated under-display technology is reportedly the key technical hurdle Apple is working to perfect, explaining the need for a phased rollout.
The 2027 iPhone is rumored to feature:
Extraordinarily slim bezels
Potentially curved glass edges
A seamless ‘all-glass’ or ‘monolithic’ physical design where the front and back surfaces flow together continuously.
A display completely free from notches, Dynamic Islands, or punch-hole camera cutouts.
This anniversary model is expected to be a premium device, likely exclusive to the Pro variants initially, and could potentially set a new price high for the iPhone lineup. Some speculation also suggests a new “Liquid Glass” UI might debut alongside this hardware, further enhancing the seamless aesthetic.
The transition reflects Apple’s careful, step-by-step approach to integrating complex new technologies. While some manufacturers have already experimented with under-display cameras, Apple typically waits until the technology meets its high standards for performance and user experience.
By gradually shrinking the visible components next year and then fully concealing them under the display by 2027, Apple aims to deliver its long-awaited vision of a truly uninterrupted, all-screen iPhone experience.
