{"id":3852,"date":"2025-11-10T13:05:29","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T13:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/iphone-20th-under-display-camera\/"},"modified":"2025-11-10T13:05:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T13:05:29","slug":"iphone-20th-under-display-camera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/iphone-20th-under-display-camera\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple to Hide Selfie Camera Under Display of 20th Anniversary iPhone &#8211; MacRumors"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<h2>Lead<\/h2>\n<p>Apple is reportedly preparing to place the front-facing camera beneath the iPhone display for its 2027, 20th\u2011anniversary model, according to a Chinese leaker and recent industry reports. The development aligns with earlier signals that under\u2011screen Face ID could appear on iPhone 18 Pro models in 2026, with a full under\u2011display selfie camera following in 2027. Suppliers and analysts referenced in reporting point to new optical designs and a possible 24\u2011megapixel inner\u2011display camera as evidence Apple is solving the light\u2011transmission problems that have limited previous implementations. If true, the move would let Apple ship a handset with no visible cutouts and a radically different, edge\u2011curved exterior.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station reported Apple plans an under\u2011screen selfie camera for its 2027 iPhone, tied to the device\u2019s 20th anniversary.<\/li>\n<li>Under\u2011screen Face ID is expected to debut on iPhone 18 Pro models in 2026, with camera adoption following a year later.<\/li>\n<li>JP Morgan cited an industry\u2011first 24\u2011megapixel camera under the inner display for Apple\u2019s first foldable \u2014 higher than the 4\u20138MP typical of current under\u2011display solutions.<\/li>\n<li>LG Innotek has been developing under\u2011display camera modules using a &#8220;freeform optic&#8221; multi\u2011lens array to reduce distortion and boost brightness, per a 2024 report.<\/li>\n<li>Android phones with under\u2011display selfie cameras often show reduced image brightness and sharpness; Apple\u2019s reported approach aims to address those shortcomings.<\/li>\n<li>Apple is also said to be working on an almost bezel\u2011less design that curves around four edges and may skip the &#8220;iPhone 19&#8221; name for 2027.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Under\u2011display cameras have been available on several Android models for a few years, but most early implementations sacrificed image quality because the sensor must capture light through display layers. That trade\u2011off has kept many manufacturers, and observers believe Apple, cautious about adopting the technology until image performance matched the company\u2019s standards. Apple\u2019s long supplier network \u2014 including South Korea\u2019s LG Innotek \u2014 has been exploring optical and module changes to improve light transmittance and reduce artifacts.<\/p>\n<p>Apple\u2019s product cadence and naming conventions provide context for the rumor. The company has a history of skipping incremental numbers for milestone devices, as when it released the iPhone X for the 10th anniversary in 2017 rather than an &#8220;iPhone 9.&#8221; Reports that Face ID components could move under the display as early as 2026 suggest a staged rollout: biometric sensors first, then a fully hidden selfie camera in 2027 for a special anniversary model.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>On November 10, 2025, the Weibo account Digital Chat Station posted that Apple\u2019s development of under\u2011screen camera technology is proceeding on a schedule aimed at adoption in 2027. The same reporting cycle referenced earlier supplier work and recent analyst notes suggesting Apple is close to overcoming the optical penalties that previously limited under\u2011display cameras. The combination of internal engineering, supplier prototypes and financial\u2011industry reporting has renewed speculation about a 20th\u2011anniversary redesign.<\/p>\n<p>One notable technical claim circulating in industry commentary is a 24\u2011megapixel camera positioned under the inner display of Apple\u2019s first foldable. That figure is substantially higher than the typical 4 or 8 MP sensors used in current under\u2011display phones, implying improvements in sensor sensitivity and display transparency. JP Morgan analysts and other market watchers cited in reports suggested such a sensor would be an &#8220;industry first.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Separately, an April 2024 report highlighted LG Innotek\u2019s work on a &#8220;freeform optic&#8221; multi\u2011lens array intended to reduce distortion and boost brightness for under\u2011display modules. While it is not confirmed whether Apple will use LG Innotek\u2019s exact design, the report provides a plausible technical route for addressing the brightness and clarity losses that occur when a camera sits beneath display layers.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>If Apple succeeds in delivering an under\u2011display selfie camera with image quality rivaling visible\u2011hole solutions, the user\u2011facing design of future iPhones would change markedly. A hidden front camera removes the last prominent visual interruption on many phone screens, enabling a truly uninterrupted display that could complement other display innovations such as edge curvature. That change would have aesthetic and marketing value, reinforcing Apple\u2019s premium positioning.<\/p>\n<p>Technically, solving the light\u2011transmission problem requires advances along several vectors: sensor sensitivity, pixel\u2011pattern adjustments in the display stack, and optical elements that counteract diffraction and scattering. The reported use of freeform optics and a higher megapixel count suggests suppliers and Apple engineers are pursuing a systems\u2011level fix rather than a stopgap. If the 24MP figure holds, it would also indicate a substantive leap in under\u2011display imaging performance.<\/p>\n<p>Market effects could be significant. Android vendors that rushed under\u2011display cameras primarily to hit spec checklists may face renewed pressure if Apple ships a demonstrably better implementation. Component suppliers such as LG Innotek and others could see increased demand, while smartphone photography benchmarks and third\u2011party camera apps may need to adapt to new hardware characteristics.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Metric<\/th>\n<th>Typical Current UDC Phones<\/th>\n<th>Reported Apple 2027 Claim<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Front camera resolution<\/td>\n<td>4\u20138 MP<\/td>\n<td>24 MP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Common issue<\/td>\n<td>Reduced brightness, blur, color shifts<\/td>\n<td>Engineered compensation via optics\/display design<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Likely year of adoption<\/td>\n<td>2020\u20132025 (early adopters)<\/td>\n<td>2027 (anniversary iPhone)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table summarizes publicly reported figures: most under\u2011display selfie modules on Android use low\u2011resolution sensors (commonly 4\u20138 MP) to contend with light loss through the display. The 24\u2011MP figure attributed to Apple represents a departure from that pattern and indicates targeted improvements in sensor sensitivity and display transparency. That said, pixel count alone does not guarantee better low\u2011light performance; optical throughput and image processing will be decisive.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Industry watchers and supply\u2011chain observers reacted to the reports with cautious interest, noting the technical hurdles that have hindered under\u2011display camera quality to date.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Development is progressing as planned for adoption in 2027,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Digital Chat Station (Weibo account, leaker)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The comment above was the clearest near\u2011term timeline claim to emerge publicly. It was reported via technology media summarizing posts from the Weibo account rather than an official Apple announcement.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Apple\u2019s first foldable will include an industry\u2011first 24\u2011megapixel camera under the inner display,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>JP Morgan (financial research note, cited in media)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>JP Morgan&#8217;s note, as reported in coverage of the rumor cycle, framed the higher megapixel count as evidence Apple may have improved light transmittance and image quality over earlier under\u2011display designs.<\/p>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: How under\u2011display cameras work<\/summary>\n<p>An under\u2011display camera sits behind the phone\u2019s active display pixels and must capture light that passes through the screen. To make that possible, manufacturers alter pixel arrangement or increase local transparency when the camera is active, but doing so often reduces display uniformity or overall brightness. Optical approaches such as multi\u2011lens arrays and &#8220;freeform&#8221; elements attempt to focus and redirect light more efficiently onto the sensor, compensating for losses caused by the intervening display layers. Image\u2011signal processing then corrects color and detail, but sensor sensitivity remains critical for low\u2011light performance. Apple\u2019s suppliers appear to be combining optics, sensor design and AI\u2011driven processing to close the gap with visible\u2011hole front cameras.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether LG Innotek\u2019s specific freeform\u2011optic modules will be the final hardware used in Apple\u2019s 2027 model remains unconfirmed.<\/li>\n<li>The 24\u2011megapixel under\u2011display camera figure is reported by financial analysts and media; Apple has not publicly confirmed the specification.<\/li>\n<li>Design claims about a fully bezel\u2011less display curving around all four edges and the decision to skip the &#8220;iPhone 19&#8221; name are based on industry expectations and have not been verified by Apple.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Reports that Apple plans an under\u2011display selfie camera for its 2027, 20th\u2011anniversary iPhone reflect an industry push to eliminate visible front\u2011facing cutouts while preserving or improving image quality. The combination of supplier work on novel optics and analyst claims of a 24\u2011MP inner\u2011display camera suggests Apple is targeting a higher bar than earlier Android attempts.<\/p>\n<p>However, critical technical details remain unconfirmed: Apple has not announced specs, and it is unclear which supplier designs, if any, will be used. For consumers and competitors, the key metric will be real\u2011world image quality, particularly in low light; if Apple achieves parity with visible\u2011hole cameras, the move could reset front\u2011camera design across the smartphone industry.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/11\/10\/2027-iphone-under-screen-camera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MacRumors<\/a> (technology news site) \u2014 primary report summarizing leaks, supplier reporting and analyst notes.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/11\/10\/2027-iphone-under-screen-camera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Digital Chat Station (Weibo account)<\/a> (leaker, reported via MacRumors) \u2014 timeline claim for 2027 adoption.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/11\/10\/2027-iphone-under-screen-camera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">JP Morgan<\/a> (financial analysis, cited in media) \u2014 reported note referencing a 24\u2011megapixel under\u2011display camera claim.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead Apple is reportedly preparing to place the front-facing camera beneath the iPhone display for its 2027, 20th\u2011anniversary model, according to a Chinese leaker and recent industry reports. The development aligns with earlier signals that under\u2011screen Face ID could appear on iPhone 18 Pro models in 2026, with a full under\u2011display selfie camera following in &#8230; <a title=\"Apple to Hide Selfie Camera Under Display of 20th Anniversary iPhone &#8211; MacRumors\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/iphone-20th-under-display-camera\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Apple to Hide Selfie Camera Under Display of 20th Anniversary iPhone &#8211; MacRumors\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3848,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Apple to hide under\u2011display selfie camera on 20th\u2011anniversary iPhone | TechBrief","rank_math_description":"Reports say Apple plans an under\u2011screen selfie camera for its 2027 20th\u2011anniversary iPhone, with suppliers and analysts citing a possible 24MP inner display module and new optics.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"under-display camera,iPhone 2027,20th anniversary iPhone,LG Innotek,24MP","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3852"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3852\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}