The future of the iPhone display is a hot topic among Apple enthusiasts and industry analysts. Predictions about how Apple plans to move towards a truly uninterrupted, all-screen design have sparked significant discussion, with timelines stretching all the way to 2030. Based on insights from reputable sources like display analyst Ross Young and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, here’s a look at the potential display roadmap for Apple’s flagship device over the next several years.
The journey towards a seamless iPhone display is expected to be a multi-phase process, primarily involving relocating the Face ID sensors and the front-facing selfie camera from visible cutouts to beneath the screen. However, the exact timing and nature of these changes remain subjects of debate among experts.
The Near Future: iPhone 18 Pro (Expected 2026)
The immediate focus is on what comes after the anticipated iPhone 16 and 17 series. For the iPhone 18 Pro models expected next year (likely in 2026, following Apple’s typical release cycle), there are conflicting reports on the display cutout.
One report suggested the iPhone 18 Pro would feature a significant departure from the current Dynamic Island, transitioning to a small, single hole-punch cutout located in the top-left corner of the screen specifically for the front camera. Visualizations based on this idea show a minimalist circular camera cutout. The top-left placement is suggested partly because the rear camera module occupies space on the right side when viewing the screen.
However, a different perspective, supported by both Ross Young and Mark Gurman, predicts a less drastic change for the iPhone 18 Pro. Instead of a single hole punch, these premium models are expected to retain the Dynamic Island, but in a smaller and narrower form factor. This is because, while Apple is anticipated to begin moving some Face ID components under the display next year, not all of them will be hidden yet. Therefore, a physical cutout will still be necessary to house the remaining Face ID elements alongside the camera, resulting in a reduced-size Dynamic Island rather than its complete removal in favor of just a camera hole.
This view aligns with Gurman’s separate reports that Apple intends to shrink the Dynamic Island on some models in the near future.
Mid-Term Evolution: 2027 and 2028
Looking further ahead, the predictions continue to diverge.
For the iPhone expected in 2027, which would mark the device’s 20th anniversary, Ross Young believes Apple will likely continue to feature the smaller Dynamic Island. This stands in contrast to earlier suggestions from Gurman, who had previously speculated that the 2027 iPhone might be the first to boast a truly uninterrupted display with no cutouts at all.
According to Young’s updated roadmap, a more significant step is expected in 2028. By this year, Apple is predicted to move all of the remaining Face ID components fully underneath the display panel. This would leave only the selfie camera needing a visible cutout. Young anticipates this camera cutout would manifest as a hole punch-style cutout in the top-left corner – ironically, the very design that one report incorrectly predicted for the iPhone 18 Pro back in 2026.
The All-Screen Dream: Reaching 2030
The ultimate goal for many iPhone users is a display completely free of any cutouts – a seamless, all-screen experience. According to Ross Young, this highly anticipated milestone isn’t expected to be reached until 2030.
Young’s prediction suggests that it will take until the turn of the decade for Apple to successfully integrate the selfie camera underneath the display panel, finally resulting in an uninterrupted screen. This places the arrival of the “mythical” all-screen iPhone approximately three years after the predicted move to a Face ID-free, hole-punch design in 2028.
It’s worth noting, however, that the timeline for the all-screen iPhone is another point of contention among analysts. While Young points to 2030, other reports, including some from Mark Gurman, have previously speculated that a fully all-screen design, potentially even without a visible camera cutout, could arrive sooner, perhaps around 2028. This highlights the inherent uncertainty in long-term tech predictions.
Visualizing the Possibilities
To help visualize these potential changes, developer Filip Vabroušek has created concept renders based on the various rumors. These visuals illustrate both the possibility of a smaller Dynamic Island and a single hole-punch camera cutout for the iPhone 18 Pro timeframe. Additionally, visualizations for future years attempt to show the step-by-step process towards the all-screen look. Some of these concepts even incorporate separate rumors, such as the suggestion that the 2027 iPhone might feature curved glass edges and extremely slim bezels – though analyst endorsements often apply strictly to the cutout predictions, not necessarily these other design elements.
Ultimately, while the precise timeline remains debated among industry insiders, the general direction appears clear: a gradual reduction and eventual elimination of display cutouts, paving the way for a truly all-screen iPhone sometime around the end of the decade.
