As rumors fly about the upcoming iPhone 14 series, a top analyst is doubling down on his recent assertion that high-end iPhones in 2024 — likely iPhone 16 Pro models — will feature an under-display camera along with under-display Face ID.
If Apple analyst Min-Chi Kuo’s tweet Wednesday turns out to be accurate, the new under-display tech would most likely finally nullify any need for a notch and possibly the pinhole-and-pill design expected in iPhone 14.
High-end 2024 iPhone models could go with under-display camera and Face ID
Kuo’s tweet predicting that an under-display camera and under-display Face ID will arrive in 2024’s high-end iPhone release doubles down on assertions from his previous reports. He calls the predicted 2024 release a “real full-screen iPhone.”
The tweet builds on one from April 2 in which Kuo agrees with analyst Ross Young about under-display Face ID coming in 2024. Kuo said at the time he believed the “schedule is less of a technical issue and more of a marketing purpose.”
I think the real full-screen iPhone will come in 2024. High-end iPhones in 2024 would adopt an under-display front camera alongside the under-display Face ID. A low-light condition is detrimental to front camera quality, and ISP & algorithm are critical for quality improvements. https://t.co/vWjeZYZUPK
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) April 20, 2022
Wednesday’s tweet repeats the Face ID idea but adds a prediction that the front selfie camera would also be under the display. Kuo seems uncertain about how it would be done, saying, “a low light condition is detrimental to front camera quality.”
But he also indicated that an Image Signal Processor (ISP) and the right “algorithm are critical for quality improvements.” So that may imply that a delay to 2024 means Apple likely will have time to overcome technical difficulties
iPhone 14 and 15 rumors
Recently, rumors predicted iPhone 14 will feature a new hole punch + pill design for the Pro models. And the whole iPhone 15 series could adopt the new design a year later.
But of course that would change with iPhone 16 models if Kuo is correct about the development of an under-display camera and Face ID.
Otherwise, recent iPhone rumors suggest iPhone 14 will feature the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 line, while the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max may get the new A16 processor.
And iPhone 15 might adopt a periscope lens, which could reduce the size of the camera bump.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
