Apple’s Ambitious Plan for an ‘All Screen’ iPhone: Display Analyst Outlines Three Key Stages for Achieving This Vision in the Next Five Years

Apple’s impending ‘all screen’ iPhone is poised to be the company’s most groundbreaking launch yet. This innovative lineup is expected to showcase a seamless design, dominated by a single sheet of glass — a fitting tribute to the 20th anniversary of its iconic smartphone series. Currently, we anticipate that it will take at least two more generations before this full-screen experience hits the market, although a display analyst suggests it may be closer to five years before Apple perfects this ambitious vision. Throughout this time frame, the iPhone is projected to evolve in three distinct phases, gradually adopting its new design aesthetic.

2026 Vision: An Evolving Design with a Compact Cutout

Looking ahead, the iPhone design slated for 2026 is predicted to feature a diminished pill-shaped cutout. Apple is reportedly working on miniaturizing the Face ID components to accommodate this reduced space. While earlier speculation suggested that the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max would skip the pill-shaped cutout in favor of a punch-hole design with Face ID functionalities integrated beneath the display, insights from Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) founder Ross Young indicate that such a switch may not occur until the iPhone 20 series launches in 2028.

For next year, expectations are that the iPhone 18 will showcase a smaller pill-shaped cutout, with Face ID components resized to fit this compact design. By 2030 — more than five years away — Young estimates that Apple will finally unveil the long-awaited ‘all screen’ iPhone, featuring no visible cutouts; instead, the selfie camera and Face ID components are expected to reside beneath the OLED display.

Ross Young on Apple's full-screen iPhone timeline

Given Apple’s history and Young’s reputable insights, it appears we may have to be patient for the ultimate iPhone. The tech giant typically introduces incremental changes with each iteration. For example, the iPhone 16 series is anticipated to undergo minimal external modifications, aside from slightly larger panels on the ‘Pro’ models.

The lengthy development period for the ‘all screen’ iPhone could be attributed to challenges surrounding image quality degradation when positioning a front camera behind the OLED display. Furthermore, the reliability of the Face ID system when all components are concealed behind the screen remains uncertain, justifying Apple’s careful approach as they look to innovate without compromising functionality.

News Source: Ross Young

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