Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone may come with this ‘Big’ selfie camera change

Apple is planning a major design change for its 2027 iPhone. The upcoming phone, which will mark iPhone’s 20th anniversary, may completely hide the front-facing camera under the display. The latest rumour from Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station aligns with previous reports that the iPhone will feature no visible cutouts in the screen.

The tipster claimed that Apple's development of under-screen camera technology is progressing as planned for adoption in 2027. This camera is rumoured to debut alongside under-screen Face ID technology on the iPhone 18 Pro models, which are expected to arrive one year earlier.While several Android phones already use under-display selfie cameras, the image quality often suffers because the lens is positioned behind the display layers.

Apple is believed to have resisted adopting this technology until it develops a solution that addresses these quality concerns.

Under display selfie camera in 20th anniversary iPhone: Who is developing it

According to an April 2024 report, LG Innotek, one of Apple’s Korean suppliers, has been developing under-display camera systems designed to remain invisible when inactive. These systems use a “freeform optic” multi-lens array intended to minimise image distortion and enhance brightness, addressing the light loss that often occurs when a camera is placed beneath a display.

It remains uncertain whether LG Innotek’s technology will be part of Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone. However, a recent JP Morgan report suggests that Apple’s first foldable device will feature a 24MP camera beneath the inner display, which is a notable step up from the 4MP or 8MP sensors typically used in under-screen cameras. This indicates progress in improving light transmittance and overall image clarity.Apple is also said to be developing a new design for the 20th anniversary iPhone, potentially featuring a fully bezel-free display that curves along all four edges. Reports indicate the company may skip the “iPhone 19” name, as it did with “iPhone 9” when it launched the iPhone X alongside the iPhone 8 series in 2017.The 20th-anniversary iPhone may even introduce solid-state buttons that replace mechanical ones, using haptic feedback to simulate physical clicks.

These buttons could improve durability and enable variable-pressure inputs for different functions.Other hardware upgrades could include a pure-silicon anode battery, promising higher energy density without increasing size, and Mobile High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) to enhance data transfer speed and power efficiency. The company may also use a custom HDR sensor for greater dynamic range in photos and an Apple-designed modem chip to replace Qualcomm components, aiming for improved power efficiency and connectivity.The upcoming model is also expected to feature a second-generation 2-nanometer A21 chip, offering better performance and efficiency, and a brighter, thinner OLED display with Samsung’s Colour Filter on Encapsulation (COE) technology for enhanced light transmission and reduced power consumption.