The anniversary iPhone 20, expected to launch in 2027 for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, risks losing its main feature — a completely bezel-free screen without cutouts. At first we had hope, since the iPhone 18 Pro cutout is supposed to become significantly smaller, but according to Chinese insider Fixed Focus Digital, Apple is experiencing serious difficulties with the technology for placing the camera and Face ID sensors under the display. If the leak is to be believed, instead of a revolutionary design, we’ll only see a gradual reduction of the Dynamic Island.
Dreamed of an iPhone like this? Image: 9to5mac.com
What the iPhone 20 Design Was Supposed to Be
Since the first rumors about the iPhone 20 appeared, the main intrigue revolved around the design. The idea is simple and beautiful: the iPhone for its 20th anniversary should become a “slab of glass” — no cutouts, no bezels, no protruding elements on the front. This was once the dream of Jony Ive, Apple’s former chief designer.
This is how the iPhone was supposed to evolve. Image: medium.com
According to rumors, the iPhone 20 screen was supposed to curve around all four edges of the body, creating the feeling of completely absent bezels. The camera and Face ID sensors would be hidden under the display. There might not even be physical buttons: they would be replaced by touch-sensitive zones on the frame.
Apple did something similar in 2017: for the iPhone’s 10th anniversary, the iPhone X was released, which removed the Home button and introduced Face ID. It was expected that the iPhone 20 would repeat this trick — only on a larger scale.
Why Apple Can’t Hide the Camera and Face ID Under the Screen
Insider Fixed Focus Digital, who publishes leaks on the Chinese platform Weibo, claims that the development of technologies for placing components under the screen is going worse than planned. According to him, Apple is “still far from a truly bezel-free screen.”
The problem is that for the Dynamic Island to completely disappear, two elements need to be hidden under the screen simultaneously: the front camera and the Face ID sensor system (infrared projector, depth camera, and other components). The camera is a difficult task. Face ID is even harder.
Competitors’ experience confirms this. Samsung placed its under-display camera in its foldable Galaxy Z Fold phones from 2021 to 2025. Over four generations, image quality never improved: the camera only shot at 4 megapixels, and the screen above it was noticeably different in color. Ultimately, in the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung completely abandoned this technology and returned to a regular cutout. This is an important signal for the entire industry.
The Dynamic Island on current iPhones is only invisible with dark wallpapers. Image: 9to5mac.com
Apple currently puts an 18-megapixel front camera in its iPhones. Maintaining that quality with an under-display camera placement is a challenge that no one in the industry has solved yet.
What iPhone 20 Will Get Instead of Dynamic Island and Screen Cutout
If the insider is to be believed, Apple will switch to a more modest strategy: a gradual reduction of the Dynamic Island with each new generation. Already in the iPhone 18 Pro, expected in fall 2026, the “island” could become noticeably smaller — possibly with some Face ID sensors moved under the screen, while the camera remains on the surface.
The rumored iPhone 20 alongside the current iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image: notebookcheck-ru.com
For the iPhone 20, this could mean a compromise: a very small camera cutout instead of its complete absence. Or, as some analysts suggest, Apple may keep a miniature version of the Dynamic Island but compensate with a curved-edge screen and no physical buttons.
It’s worth noting: Fixed Focus Digital is an insider with a mixed reputation. He publishes many leaks, and not all of them are confirmed. But the very fact that under-display camera technology is stalling is confirmed by other sources as well. Display industry analyst Ross Young warned earlier that a fully bezel-free iPhone might not appear until 2030.
When Will iPhone 20 Launch and How Much Will It Cost in Russia
According to Bloomberg (Mark Gurman) and other sources, the anniversary iPhone is expected in fall 2027 — presumably in September. Apple will likely skip number 19 and jump straight to iPhone 20, just as it once skipped from iPhone 8 to iPhone X.
There are no exact prices yet. But for reference: the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, the iPhone 17 Pro Max at $1,199. Analysts expect the iPhone 18 Pro to maintain roughly the same prices. The anniversary model with a radical design could end up more expensive — at Pro Max level or even higher.
Assuming a starting price in the $1,199–$1,299 range, the estimated price in Russia would be approximately 129,000 to 140,000 ₽. However, this is a very preliminary estimate — there are still a year and a half until the device launches, and the price could change.
Should You Wait for iPhone 20 or Buy iPhone 18 Pro This Year
The main question for those thinking about upgrading: should you wait for the anniversary iPhone or get the iPhone 18 Pro in fall 2026?
The cutout will start shrinking with the iPhone 18 Pro, but won’t disappear completely. Image: macrumors.com
Here’s what to consider:
- The iPhone 18 Pro will launch in fall 2026 with a new 2-nanometer processor, an improved camera with variable aperture, and possibly a smaller Dynamic Island. Prices, according to analyst forecasts, will remain at current levels — starting from $1,099 (approximately from 119,000 ₽ in Russia).
- The iPhone 20 won’t appear until fall 2027. Even if it gets a noticeably updated design, a fully bezel-free screen is now in question.
- If you’re using an iPhone 15 or older, waiting another year and a half just for the design alone is a questionable strategy. The iPhone 18 Pro promises substantial improvements in camera and performance.
- If you have an iPhone 17 Pro, neither the iPhone 18 nor the iPhone 20 are worth rushing for — the difference will be more evolutionary.
Today’s leak is not a death sentence for the iPhone 20. There are still about 18 months until its release, and Apple could achieve a breakthrough during that time. But expectations should be tempered: instead of a radically new design, we’ll most likely get a solid improvement — a smaller cutout, curved screen, and new materials. For most users
