There have been ongoing speculations that Apple will be going all out for the 20th anniversary iPhone in 2027. It is anticipated that this year will mark the moment when the company finally realizes its long-desired goal of transforming the iPhone into “a single slab of glass.”
What this implies is that there will be no apparent bezels and no Dynamic Island or any cutouts of any type on the screen. Although this is already feasible from a technical standpoint, it would require one significant trade-off.
### The ‘single slab of glass’ concept
Former Apple design head Jony Ive was the first to articulate this notion to define what he envisioned as the ideal iPhone – where the only visible aspect when looking at the iPhone from the front is glass and solely glass.
No bezels, no Dynamic Island, not even a camera hole. All front-facing technology would be concealed beneath the display. While Ive is no longer with the company, it is widely accepted that Apple still embraces that vision.
The iPhone X was, naturally, the initial significant step towards it, removing the chin with its Home button. The notch for the selfie camera and Face ID feature was subsequently succeeded by a more compact Dynamic Island, and it has been speculated that next year’s iPhone 18 will incorporate the Face ID module under the display, leaving only a minimal punch hole for the selfie camera.
### The 20th anniversary iPhone
Typically, we would anticipate the flagship 2027 iPhone to be designated as the iPhone 19 Pro, yet there have been hints that Apple might leap directly to iPhone 20 nomenclature to celebrate the 20th anniversary – or perhaps utilize a standalone title similar to the approach taken with the iPhone X and iPhone Air.
Should Apple choose a name instead of a number, the most frequently discussed option has been the iPhone Ultra. While this seems plausible, I personally believe that Apple might consolidate hardware and software branding by naming it the iPhone Glass.
With the iPhone 18, the remaining visible disruption to the display will be the front-facing camera. Eliminating this would imply embedding the camera beneath the display alongside the Face ID technology.
This is technically achievable at this point. At least two Android prototypes have been developed featuring cameras concealed beneath the screen. However, a challenge exists.
### The trade-off of an embedded selfie camera
The problem observed with Android prototypes is a considerable decline in image quality for an embedded selfie camera. This has manifested as low contrast and detail levels as light passes through the display layers.
Certainly, technology will have advanced by 2027, and it is probable that any compromise in image quality by then will be relatively minimal. Nevertheless, I would anticipate that photos would experience at least some level of degradation compared to a standard smartphone selfie camera.
The critical question, then, is whether accepting some degree of compromise here would be a beneficial exchange? Let’s envision something akin to the comparison shown below. Nothing overly significant, just slightly less contrast and a touch more blur from the embedded camera.
Would you be willing to accept this level of compromise from the selfie camera in exchange for an all-glass display? Please take our poll and share your opinions in the comments.
