Apple is planning a revolutionary redesign for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary in 2027: a completely hidden front camera under the display. According to Digital Chat Station and supply chain reports, Apple will finally eliminate the notch and Dynamic Island — achieving a true full-screen iPhone.

The Timeline: 2026 → 2027

Year Model Under-Display Tech
2026 iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max Face ID under display (no notch, small camera hole)
2026 iPhone Fold (rumored) 24MP under-display selfie camera
2027 iPhone 20th Anniversary Full under-display: camera + Face ID
2027 iPhone: No notch. No hole. No bezels. Just screen.

Why Apple Waited — And How It’s Solving the Problem

Android phones like ZTE Axon and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold have used under-display cameras since 2021 — but image quality suffers due to light loss through the panel.

Apple refused to compromise. Now, with LG Innotek, they’ve developed:

  • Multilayer freeform lenses — reduce distortion
  • Advanced pixel routing — improve light transmission
  • AI image enhancement — compensate for panel interference
Result: 24MP under-display camera — 3x better than current Android UDCs (4–8MP)

iPhone Fold: The First to Test the Tech

JP Morgan predicts Apple’s foldable iPhone (2026) will debut the tech:

Feature iPhone Fold (2026) Galaxy Z Fold 6 (2025)
Inner Screen 7.8" OLED 7.6" OLED
Under-Display Camera 24MP 4MP
Outer Display 6.3" (hole-punch) 6.3" (hole-punch)

2027: The iPhone X Moment (Again)

Just like 2017’s iPhone X skipped “9”, the 20th anniversary model may:

  • Skip “iPhone 19” → go straight to iPhone 20 or iPhone X2
  • Feature curved edges on all four sides
  • Have zero visible sensors on front
  • Use micro-lens array display for uniform brightness
“A frameless, edgeless, sensorless screen — the purest iPhone ever.”

Challenges Apple Still Faces

Challenge Apple’s Solution
Light loss through panel LG Innotek freeform optics + AI upscaling
Face ID accuracy Under-display ToF + IR dot projector
Cost & yield Mass production starts mid-2026

Who Wins in 2027?

You Want… Wait For Why
True full-screen 2027 iPhone No notch, no hole, no compromise
Foldable + great selfie 2026 iPhone Fold 24MP UDC first
Pro features now iPhone 18 Pro (2026) Face ID under display, small hole

Final Thought

2027 isn’t just an iPhone. It’s the end of the selfie camera era.

Apple waited 6 years to perfect under-display tech. When it lands in 2027, it won’t just hide the camera — it will redefine smartphone design for the next decade.

The notch is dead. Long live the screen.

Data Sources & Methodology (as of Nov 10, 2025):

  • Digital Chat Station (Weibo, Nov 9, 2025) — primary leak on 2027 UDC timeline.
  • JP Morgan Supply Chain Report — 24MP foldable camera spec.
  • The Elec, MacRumors — LG Innotek multilayer lens tech.
  • Patently Apple — Apple’s under-display Face ID patents (2024–2025).
  • Counterpoint Research — Android UDC quality analysis (4–8MP current standard).

All specs are based on credible leaks and patents. The “iPhone X2” name is speculative but aligns with Apple’s 10th anniversary precedent.