Over the years , various rumors have indicated that Apple be after to incorporate Face ID engineering into the exhibit of a future iPhone . Now , the society has been grant a U.S. patent cover the technology subject of accomplish this integration . This development suggests that the feature could be innovate on at least one model in the upcoming iPhone 17 serial publication , which is localise to set up next year .
The patent , report byPatently Apple , details the intricate placement of television camera and other sensors behind an combat-ready show part . This creation might at last eliminate the demand for the notorious iPhone notch / lozenge cutout that has characterise recent model .
As mentioned in the letters patent : “ Such a locating … pull through showing area , as otherwise the source would have to be placed in a notch sphere … ( utilized for other devices , for example cameras and other radiation sensing element ) , thus enlarging the notch and consequently reducing the useful area of display . ”
TheiPhone X , released in 2017 , was Apple ’s first headphone to sport this notch , a anovulatory drug - work cutout position at the top of the exhibit that ’s designed to house the TrueDepth camera system for Face ID and front - face cameras . The snick , despite what it extend , has often been a tumultuous element in terms of maintaining a sleek , uninterrupted show aesthetic .
In recent years , Apple has incrementally meliorate the television camera cutout notch , make it slightly small and more sophisticated . Most recently , the introduction of Dynamic Island for the iPhone 14 Pro make a more interactive and functional mountain pass , yet the cutout has never been completely removed . The ongoing disputation over the intent has prompted speculation and Bob Hope among Apple enthusiasts that the company might take further steps to minimize or redesign the nick only .
For at least the preceding two iPhone cycles , there have been rumors that Apple was consideringreducing the notch sizing , but not eliminate the notch . However , the recent patent of invention suggests that Apple plans to remove it instead of fix the notch small .
Perhaps it ’s precise that three of next year ’s iPhone model — the iPhone 17 , iPhone 17 Pro , andiPhone 17 Pro Max — will feature smaller notches for a slightly elegant aesthetic . However , the much - rumored “ iPhone Air , ” potentially place as a fresh premium option , could become the first Apple handset to replace the traditional pass with Face ID constituent under the glass . This would mark a significant milestone in Apple ’s design phylogenesis , allowing for a more unlined video display .
In this scenario , the iPhone Air might introduce a minimum television camera hole on the face rather than a notch , remindful of innovation seen in other smartphone brands . This innovative approach aligns with current trend toward maximizing screen tangible estate of the realm and enhances the overall user experience by providing a more immersive presentation without physical break .
We will know soon enough . Apple ’s iPhone 17 serial is anticipated to be announced in Septembe 2025r . Until then , the rumor milling machinery will rise louder with more news and speculation .
