In just a few months, Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup. Meanwhile, a display analyst has outlined a roadmap featuring three significant design alterations anticipated for future iPhones, commencing next year.
The path to a fully-screen iPhone may take longer than anticipated
Apple is planning extensive updates for the iPhone over the upcoming years.
However, new insights from supply chain analyst Ross Young suggest that some of these changes may not occur as swiftly as we had hoped.
Young shares his thoughts on X about the iPhone’s progression toward a seamless screen design, devoid of any cutouts:
Probably 3 stages:
2026 – a smaller notch as some Face ID components remain within the notch instead of being transparent beneath the display.2028 – all Face ID elements except the front camera will be integrated beneath the display without any notch. The front camera will remain separate.
2030 – the front camera will be placed beneath the display. No punch hole or notch will exist.
Young is well-respected for his expertise in display technologies. Nonetheless, his projected timeline contrasts with reports from other sources.
For instance, The Information has suggested that certain models of the iPhone 18, expected in 2026, would eliminate the Dynamic Island altogether and introduce a new hole-punch design in the top-left corner. This has been further supported by additional reports.
Young, however, foresees such changes occurring only in 2028, with next year merely reducing the size of the Dynamic Island without completely removing it.
Mark Gurman has noted that Apple is working on a fully-screen 20th-anniversary iPhone model, targeting a 2027 launch.
According to Young, the debut of the first all-screen iPhone design is still a long way off, anticipated for 2030.
DMN’s Perspective
How should we interpret these conflicting reports?
Given that the iPhone models are still over a year away, it is likely that Apple continues to tweak its design strategies. For instance, Ming Chi-Kuo recently mentioned that Apple has yet to finalize all components for its first foldable iPhone, which is expected to launch in fall 2026.
If Apple’s strategies have changed, corroborating updates from other sources should emerge soon. Nonetheless, I hope that isn’t the case, as waiting five years for the first truly all-screen iPhone feels excessively lengthy.
What are your thoughts on Young’s timeline for iPhone design modifications? Share your opinions in the comments.
