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An iPhone without a hole in the display would be the big moment for its 20th anniversary. The leaker who fueled this hope a year ago now rules it out when asked. His answer consists of just a few characters, but it packs a punch.
Rumors have long circulated that the iPhone 20 will feature a fully curved, almost bezel-less display. The question remained whether the front would truly be completely free of any notches. The Weibo account Digital Chat Station addressed this question on November 3rd in the comments section of one of their own posts.
Digital Chat Station is among the best-known leakers of information from the Chinese supply chain and has a number of accurate Apple leaks to its name, but has also been wrong on occasion. The answer is not provided by a document or technical evidence; it is a single comment.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Digital Chat Station denies that there will be an iPhone 20 Pro Max without a notch in the display.
- He literally only writes that there is a hole; he does not mention Dynamic Island in his reply.
- His article from September mentions a hole-based solution for the Pro models as a small Dynamic Island.
- A year ago, the same account reported a front camera under the display for 2027.
- Display analyst Ross Young already expected in January that Dynamic Island would remain for longer.
What the comment says
Under the post about the spring models, a user asked whether the iPhone 20 Pro Max, due in the second half of 2027, would have a full-screen display without a hole or a Dynamic Island. Digital Chat Station's answer, translated, simply states: „It has a hole.“
This rules out a completely open front for the Pro Max. The question compared both options, but only addresses the hole. The size of the cutout and the location of Face ID are not specified.
Five stalls from one source
This comment is the last in a series of statements from the same account. It's not a straightforward line, but the completely unbiased front has increasingly faded into the background.
| Time | Statement from Digital Chat Station |
|---|---|
| November 2025 | Front camera under the display, in development for 2027 |
| March 2026 | Tests for the camera and Face ID under the display are ongoing. |
| May 2026 | Prototype of the 2027 generation with camera in a hole, Face ID under the display |
| September 21, 2026 | Early displays with a hole-punch solution as small Dynamic Island displays |
| November 3, 2026 | When asked about a display without a hole: „It has a hole.“ |
The discrepancies can be explained by the fact that, according to the September post, Apple is testing early displays and plans are subject to change. This new response is not independent confirmation, as it comes from the same source as the previous information.
However, other voices echo this sentiment. Ross Young predicted in January that the Dynamic Island would shrink but last longer than expected. Weibo user Fixed Focus Digital reported in March on hurdles with Face ID under the display.
The form should still come
The commentary doesn't change anything about the curved front. The September article mentions a bezel-less, four-sided curved design under test and displays measuring approximately 6.41 and 6.96 inches. According to ETNews, Apple is sticking with this form factor, even if it postpones two new display technologies. The trade publication cites unnamed industry sources.
The model name also remains a mystery. The leaker and his followers are calling it „iPhone 20 Pro“; Apple has not announced the device.
The anniversary celebration will likely not have an empty front
I now consider the small Dynamic Island scenario the most likely outcome. The last three updates from the account all show a hole, and the last concrete indication of an under-display camera in the iPhone 20 is an analyst note from May that only mentions ongoing development. However, the matter isn't entirely settled: the situation could still change by fall 2027, and the statement about the hole is based on a single account.
For the overall design, this wouldn't be a setback. A display curved on all four edges would significantly alter the device even with a small notch. However, if you're waiting for the iPhone 20 solely because of a completely unobstructed front, you should lower your expectations.
Would the iPhone 20 with its curved display and small Dynamic Island camera still be a reason for you to switch, or were you absolutely expecting a front without a hole? Tell us in the comments how much this last cutout matters to you.
