What’s happened? Apple is moving toward a hole-less display. Face ID is tipped to slip under the glass first, then the front camera follows in 2027, lining up with the 20th-anniversary iPhone.
- According to Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station and reporting summarized by MacRumors, Apple plans to place the selfie camera under the display in 2027, after under-screen Face ID arrives on iPhone 18 Pro in 2026.
- LG Innotek is said to be working on “freeform optic” modules to reduce distortion and boost brightness for cameras hidden behind the panel.
- A separate report links a 24-megapixel under-display camera to Apple’s first foldable, which could preview algorithms and hardware before the mainline iPhone adopts the tech.
This is important because: The question is not whether Apple can hide the hardware, it is whether it can keep photos and unlock speed up to par. If it does, under-display stops being a party trick and becomes the default.
- Android tried under-panel cameras early, but image quality dipped because the sensor shoots through display layers.
- A staged 2026 to 2027 rollout gives suppliers time to refine optics and panel transparency, which can stabilize yields and costs.
- If Apple delivers consistent selfies and quick unlocks, rivals will have to raise their own standards fast.
Why should I care? This is the screen many iPhone owners have wanted. You keep Face ID and selfies, but everyday use gets cleaner.
- Full-screen movies and games lose the little cutout distraction at the top edge.
- Android phones have already explored this path, like when Samsung Z Fold 3 introduced the under-display-camera back in 2021. It was eventually discontinued with the Z Fold 7 because of the sub-par quality of selfies.
- Fewer UI workarounds for status indicators and alerts should make interfaces feel roomier.
- Accessory makers can optimize around uninterrupted glass, which may help with screen protectors and fit.
Okay, so what’s next? Watch iPhone 18 Pro in 2026. If under-screen Face ID lands smoothly, the 2027 slab iPhone is positioned to hide the selfie camera and complete the transition. Earlier reports point to the iPhone Fold as the test bed for the hidden camera tech, so watch out for that as well.
- The key checkpoint is image fidelity in tough lighting, plus how quickly the camera switches from display mode to capture.
- Expect competition, as Android brands are being nudged toward 3D under-display face unlock on a similar timeline.
- Apple may test UI tweaks and higher-resolution under-display cameras on a foldable first, then roll the best ideas into the anniversary iPhone.
