What's special about the 20th anniversary iPhone?

The high-end model marking the 20th anniversary of the iPhone may feature a completely bezel-less display, eliminating the notch containing the front camera and sensors.

An iPhone without a notch could be released to mark its 20th anniversary. Photo: MacRumors .

According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing a "bold" iPhone Pro model for the 20th anniversary of the iPhone's launch in 2027.

As part of a "major overhaul" for the future of the soon-to-be 20-year-old smartphone brand, leaked information suggests Apple is developing a design that uses more glass, directly alluding to the display.

The path of a screen without notches.

Gurman recently mentioned that the iPhone Pro will have a smaller Dynamic Island in 2026 or 2027, when Apple moves more front-facing components beneath the display.

Although it remains unclear whether the selfie camera or the TrueDepth system will change first, analyst Ross Young says under-display Face ID is planned for release in 2026.

Following Dynamic Island, the notch on the iPhone screen may continue to shrink and eventually be eliminated. Photo: MacRumors.

If this information is accurate, under-display Face ID could appear as early as next year, on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. In that case, Dynamic Island would shrink but remain the same, housing the front camera through a small hole.

The logical next step for the 2027 flagship is to move this camera under the screen, finally achieving the long-awaited full-screen design. That progression also aligns with the iPhone screen design change roadmap that Young predicted back in 2023.

Another leaked source also revealed similar plans. On Weibo, the account Digital Chat Station suggested that the next two generations of iPhones – iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 – will both retain Dynamic Island. However, with the models launching in 2027, Apple will complete the transition to displays without notches.

Technical barriers

Whether an iPhone with an under-display camera will appear in celebration of the product line's 20th anniversary will largely depend on Apple's technological advancements.

For Face ID to work under the screen, the sensors for this feature – especially those using infrared light – need to function without interference from the layers of the screen above. This is difficult with current OLED and LCD technologies, which tend to scatter or absorb infrared signals.

Currently, Face ID sensors need to occupy a specific space on the iPhone screen. Photo: MacRumors.

However, some new display technologies are opening up opportunities to achieve this. Transparent OLED panels can allow infrared light to pass through specific areas of the screen. However, some devices currently using this method experience reduced brightness and clarity.

LTPO displays with subpixels that can be temporarily disabled also allow sensors to "see" through the panel during authentication. Another possibility involves integrating optical waveguide layers into the display to carry infrared signals to and from the sensors.

Apple could also incorporate advanced IR-pass materials to create an invisible sensing area, helping to ensure display quality while still allowing for accurate facial recognition.

If Apple intends to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone with a hardware leap similar to the iPhone X in 2017 – the first iPhone to eliminate the Home button and introduce Face ID – then a full-screen design would certainly be a hit.

Regarding the naming convention, it remains unclear whether Apple will continue using the annual numbering system, meaning iPhone 19 in 2027, or choose a celebratory name like "iPhone 20" to match the year marking this milestone.

In 2017, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, the company introduced a special edition iPhone X with a completely new design.

Source: https://znews.vn/dieu-dac-biet-cua-chiec-iphone-ki-niem-20-nam-post1546147.html