iPhone’s All-Screen Future: Display Roadmaps Clash on Timeline, But Not on Direction

iPhone’s All-Screen Future: Display Roadmaps Clash on Timeline, But Not on Direction

A new forecast from display analyst Ross Young outlines a three-stage evolution of iPhone display technology, ending with a truly all-screen iPhone by 2030. But this long-term roadmap conflicts with other credible reports, including Bloomberg’s, which suggest Apple could reach that milestone as early as 2027 to coincide with the iPhone’s 20th anniversary.

Ross Young’s iPhone Display Roadmap

According to Young, Apple’s journey to a notch-free, cutout-free iPhone will unfold in three major phases:

  1. 2026 – Smaller Notch, Partial Under-Display Face ID

    • Some Face ID components will move under the display

    • Others will remain in a smaller notch, likely debuting with the iPhone 18 Pro

    • A single hole-punch camera remains visible

  2. 2028 – All Face ID Under Display, Camera Still Visible

    • Full under-display Face ID

    • Only the front-facing camera remains as a punch-hole cutout

  3. 2030 – Complete Seamless Display

    • Front camera moves under the display

    • No cutouts, no notch: the first true all-screen iPhone

Conflicting Timeline: 2030 vs. 2027

While Young's roadmap is technically plausible, it clashes with multiple other sources that point to 2027 as the year Apple makes the big leap:

  • Mark Gurman (Bloomberg): Reports a 2027 "Glasswing" iPhone featuring no visible cutouts

  • ETNews: Suggests a bezel-free, under-display camera design arriving in 2027, coinciding with the iPhone’s 20th anniversary

  • Digital Chat Station & The Information: Both predict under-display Face ID by 2026, aligning with the first stage of Young’s plan but hinting at a faster transition

What’s Holding Apple Back?

The main technical hurdle isn’t Face ID—it’s the under-display selfie camera. Apple demands high image quality, and current under-panel camera tech (used in some Android devices) still struggles with:

  • Sharpness and color accuracy

  • Light distortion

  • Low-light performance

Apple may be holding back until it can deliver a cutout-free display without sacrificing camera quality.

So, Who’s Right?

Both roadmaps could be true—just from different perspectives:

  • Ross Young is known for accurate supply chain insights, and may be referencing mass production timelines

  • Gurman and ETNews could be referring to prototype or limited-release anniversary models—perhaps exclusive to the highest-end iPhone tier

It’s also possible Apple launches an “iPhone Ultra” in 2027 with an all-screen design, while mainstream Pro models adopt it later, in 2028–2030.

What Comes First: iPhone 18 Pro (2026)

Regardless of when the endgame arrives, the next milestone appears to be:

  • iPhone 18 Pro in 2026

    • Under-display Face ID (partially)

    • Smaller or repositioned punch-hole camera

    • More immersive display design

This aligns all major sources and sets the stage for the dramatic transformations still to come.

Bottom Line

The road to the all-screen iPhone is well underway, with:

  • 2026: First step—partial under-display tech

  • 2027–2030: Competing visions—either a full-screen anniversary edition or a more cautious rollout

One thing’s clear: the iPhone’s final form is coming into focus, and it’s getting closer to “just screen” than ever before.

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