Apple is reportedly testing an iPhone 19 Pro prototype with a display that curves around all four sides of the body. The information comes from a Chinese insider and relates to a 2027-generation device — meaning the release is still far off, and the prototype itself is at the evaluation stage. While everyone is discussing the colors of the iPhone 18 Pro coming out this fall, let’s break down what exactly is being claimed about the next generation and why for now this is more interesting as a glimpse into Apple’s thinking rather than a definitive story about a future iPhone.
The screen will be on all sides of the iPhone except the back
iPhone 19 Pro Leak: Display, Face ID, and Camera
The source of the rumor is the Digital Chat Station account on the Chinese social network Weibo. According to them, Apple is evaluating an iPhone 19 Pro prototype with a display curved on all four sides. At the same time, according to the leak, the screen retains a punch-hole cutout for the front camera, while Face ID is already completely hidden beneath the panel.
An important caveat: this is specifically a prototype at the testing stage. The iPhone 19 Pro is still about two years away, and during that time Apple could change its mind or abandon this design entirely.
How iPhone 19 Pro Could Differ from the Anniversary iPhone
This rumor is interesting not on its own, but in the context of another long-discussed topic — the anniversary iPhone for the 20th anniversary. Earlier reports had already emerged that Apple is preparing a special model for 2027 with a four-sided curved display and no screen cutouts whatsoever.
The iPhone 19 Pro will retain the front camera cutout
But iPhone 20 will already be without it
If the new leak is to be believed, the four-sided display could also appear on the regular iPhone 19 Pro and Pro Max. This creates a problem: how would the anniversary model differ from the Pro lineup? According to the insider’s logic, the difference could be precisely in the camera cutout: Pro models would keep it, while the anniversary iPhone would get a seamless screen with no holes.
Under-Display Camera in iPhone: The Main Problem with the New Design
The main technical obstacle is not Face ID, but specifically the selfie camera. Apple, according to the source, is struggling with the task of hiding both the Face ID system and the front camera under the display, with the camera being the most problematic element. The logic is simple: an under-display camera shoots “through” pixels, and this hurts photo quality.
Would you want an iPhone with a dot cutout?
If existing technologies don’t allow this to be done without sacrificing quality, Apple, according to the insider, won’t take that step. That’s precisely why Pro models will most likely retain the cutout — while the completely “clean” screen will be reserved for the anniversary model.
Curved iPhone Display: Drawbacks and Controversial Points
For practical decisions right now, this rumor means nothing. This is about a 2027 device, and it has no impact on choosing between current iPhone models. If you’re planning to buy a new iPhone this season or next, focus on the current lineup and its prices, not a hypothetical design two generations away.
A curved screen is a rather controversial innovation. Let’s see how Apple handles it
There’s also another side — whether a four-sided display is even worth waiting for. Judging by the reaction to the leaks, this design has plenty of skeptics. The main complaints sound reasonable:
- the side screen surfaces are easy to accidentally touch with fingers when simply holding the smartphone
- cases and flip covers block the curved edges, defeating the purpose of the design
- the device’s corners with screen on the edges are more vulnerable when dropped
- it’s still unclear what practical problems such a display solves
This isn’t a death sentence for the technology, but a reminder: a display curved on all sides is still an impressive engineering demonstration for now, not a proven convenience in everyday use.
The leak is intriguing because it shows the direction in which Apple is experimenting with the design of Pro models and the anniversary iPhone. But specifics are scarce: the prototype is at the evaluation stage, the key technology (under-display camera) hasn’t been perfected yet, and the release is about two years away. Real conclusions about a four-sided display in the iPhone 19 Pro can be drawn closer to 2027, when leaks emerge from production lines rather than laboratories.
