This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more on our Partner Program page.
Apple launches a new iPhone every year. It's no longer just about new chips or cameras, but increasingly about the design – especially the display. The information recently published by display analyst Ross Young and Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman is particularly exciting. They provide an outlook for the coming years up to 2030. What can you expect? Here you'll find all the details, sorted by year.
The look into the future of the iPhone is based on credible sources: Ross Young , an analyst at Display Supply Chain Consultants, has presented a concrete timeline for Apple's display strategy through 2030. His statements are complemented by reports from Mark Gurman, who is considered a well-connected Apple insider. While some statements contradict each other, together they paint a realistic picture of how the iPhone will evolve – step by step.
iPhone 18 Pro in 2026 – smaller Dynamic Island instead of camera hole
According to a report by The Information, the iPhone 18 Pro will feature a single camera hole in the upper left corner next year (2026). Ross Young disagrees . According to his information, Apple will relocate some of the Face ID components beneath the display, but will retain the Dynamic Island—albeit in a significantly smaller version. Mark Gurman also supports this theory. He expects Apple to use a smaller Dynamic Island in at least some models. So, it seems certain that Apple will stick with the Dynamic Island but make it significantly slimmer.
iPhone 2027 – 20 years of iPhone, but not yet an all-screen device
The iPhone will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2027. Gurman claims that Apple is planning a special model that will feature a display without any notches – a seamless all-screen design. Young sees it differently. He also expects a smaller Dynamic Island for 2027, but not yet a completely seamless display. According to Gurman, the anniversary model will also have curved glass edges and extremely narrow display bezels. Young does not comment directly on this detail, but agrees with a graphic that shows exactly that. He emphasizes, however, that his approval does not mean he can confirm these design elements – he simply has no information about them.
iPhone 2028 – almost all sensors under the display
By 2028, Young predicts that Apple will finally relocate most of the Face ID components beneath the display. Only the selfie camera will remain visible as a punch-hole cutout in the top left corner of the screen. This would further move the iPhone toward a full-screen display without sacrificing important features like Face ID.
iPhone 2029 – Fine-tuning at a high level
According to Young, there will be no radical innovation in 2029. Apple is likely to further optimize the technology and refine the design. Only the camera will remain visible under the display. Otherwise, there are no new concrete details for this year. It's likely that Apple will rely on stable and mature technologies during this period before taking the next big step.
iPhone 2030 – first true all-screen design
According to Young, 2030 is the earliest year Apple could introduce a truly bezel-less iPhone. This means a device that no longer has a notch, a dynamic island, or a visible camera hole. Whether this is technically feasible depends, among other things, on how well Apple can fit the camera completely under the display without compromising image quality.
- Which Apple iPhone is right for me? The big model comparison
- Why an iPhone? These advantages are convincing in the long term
The all-screen iPhone is coming – but not immediately
If you're waiting for a truly all-screen iPhone, you'll probably have to wait until 2030. Before then, however, there have already been important steps in that direction: smaller dynamic islands, Face ID technology hidden under the display, and narrower bezels. Ross Young's information is considered reliable, and Mark Gurman's assessments complement the picture. Even if the two disagree on some points, clear trends can be identified. The iPhone will become significantly more modern and streamlined in the coming years – but not overnight, but in many small steps. (Image: Shutterstock / Kicking Studio)
- iPhone Fold: New leaks show display, camera and design
- iPhone 17 Pro: New images show camera bars in detail
- This is what Apple is planning for the iPhone: Six models per year
