The notch (or notch) of the iPhone has become almost a hallmark of Apple smartphones since the launch of the iPhone X, which was the first to incorporate it. However, times have changed and one of the wishes that users have most expressed about future iPhones is the elimination of this symbolic element. Now, according to analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo, we could be closer than ever to this possibility.
Stage one: reduction in this year’s iPhones
It is true that every year there has been speculation about the reduction of the notch in the iPhone, but it seems that this year it sounds louder and there is practically no analyst of the company who affirms otherwise. The iPhone 13, or 12s if you decide to call them that, would see their notch reduced. It is not known if in all the models, but the change in the ‘Pro’ models is practically guaranteed. According to the well-known leaker Jon Prosser, this reduction would not be in width but in height, something that Kuo has not confirmed in his most recent report.
Goodbye (almost final) in the year 2022
Continuing with the information from Ming-Chi Kuo, it will be next year when we finally see the disappearance of the notch in the iPhone of the ‘Pro’ range. And yes, in this case, he has stressed that it will be in those models and that the rest will continue to have it, although probably in the reduced format that would be released this year and that we have commented previously. The design in the higher-end models would be similar on the front to phones like the Galaxy with a hole in the screen for the camera.
Would this mean the end of Face ID? Well, in principle it is not known for sure, but it would be strange if Apple eliminated a system that is still the most effective on the market. Several weeks ago a series of patents were known that described a system of biometric sensors under the screen, so if the development comes to fruition we could see it. Of course, it does not seem an easy task to incorporate these 3D sensors under the panel, since it incorporates a greater difficulty even than that of the fingerprint sensor.
Precisely having Touch ID under the screen will be one of the novelties of this year that would also be maintained next year, thereby giving the possibility of eliminating Face ID if the aforementioned technology is not developed. It will be key in the coming months to learn about new Apple advances in this field.
So what would the iPhone designs look like?
In short, emphasizing once again that it is unofficial information even if it comes from reliable sources, the iPhone would have the following form factor on its front:
- 2021
- iPhone mini: normal or reduced notch (exact unknown, as is Touch ID under the screen)
- Standard iPhone: normal or reduced notch (exact unknown, as is Touch ID under the screen)
- iPhone Pro : reduced notch with Face ID and with Touch ID under the screen
- iPhone Pro Max: reduced notch with Face ID and with Touch ID under the screen
- 2022
- iPhone mini : reduced notch
- iPhone standard: reduced notch
- iPhone Pro: without notch and with hole in the screen, with Touch ID under the screen (it is not known if with Face ID under the screen)
- iPhone Pro Max: without notch and with hole in the screen, with Touch ID under the screen (it is not known if with Face ID under the screen)