Apple is said to be working on embedding the Face ID system beneath the iPhone’s display in its quest for a true all-screen iPhone. The company was rumored to introduce such a system as soon as next year with the iPhone 17 Pro. However, there is now a possibility that Apple will delay the feature by another year, according to a new prediction by the esteemed displays analyst Ross Young.
In a new post on X, Young states that the under-display Face ID is at risk of being delayed till 2026 at the earliest, casting doubt that this feature would be ready in time for the iPhone 17 Pro. This would be another setback for Apple, who originally hoped to integrate some of the last remaining sensors on the iPhone’s front beneath the display beginning with this year’s iPhone 16 Pro.
Hearing that under panel Face ID may be delayed till 2026…
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) March 15, 2024Discover new horizons, always connected with eSIM
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Young first predicted that Apple would introduce under-display Face ID with the iPhone 16 Pro. However, as reported earlier, the company appeared to have first delayed the feature to 2025. Young’s revelation today indicates that Apple still faces difficulties with embedding the necessary sensors beneath the iPhone 17 Pro’s display panel. The feature is now expected to debut with the iPhone 18 Pro.
An iPhone display roadmap shared by Young last year indicated Apple’s desire for a true all-screen iPhone won’t be fully realized until 2027. Apple is hoping to bring under-display Face ID first while still keeping a smaller cutout for the front-facing camera. Up until today, the 2027 iPhone lineup was rumored to be the first to embed all sensors and cameras beneath the display. However, with the under-display Face ID delayed again, it’s unlikely that we will see the under-display front camera materialize anytime soon.
Despite the setback, Apple still has a few display advancements on the horizon for the iPhone 17 lineup. Young earlier reported that the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus will feature an LTPO panel, likely meaning that the devices will feature a ProMotion display with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz like the Pro iPhone lineup. A dramatically improved 24-megapixel front-facing camera could also be heading to the iPhone 17 Pro and the rest of the lineup.
