Apple Reportedly Working on Under-Display Camera Technology for Future iPhones
Apple is reportedly working on under-display camera technology for its iPhones, which could pave the way towards an all-screen bezel-less iPhone in the future. Currently, under-display camera technology is only present on a few phones due to its complexities, making it yet to become mainstream on smartphones.
Moving Away from Notch Display
Apple recently moved away from its traditional notch display to the Dynamic Island design on this year's entire iPhone lineup. It is expected that even the next-generation SE model will feature the same pill-shaped cutout.
Advanced Development of Under-Panel Camera System
According to a new report, Apple aims to remove the Dynamic Island design altogether and adopt under-display camera technology for future iPhones. The Korean supplier, LG Innotek, is said to have already commenced advanced development of an under-panel camera (UPC) system.
However, under-display cameras have a main issue of low light transmission compared to existing selfie cameras. This results in lower quality images as less light passes through the display area. To address this challenge, LG Innotek is working on a special lens system called 'freeform optic'.
Overcoming Light Transmission Challenges
LG Innotek's solution involves controlling the thickness of the peripheral lens, reducing distortion, and increasing the light-intensity ratio around the optical module. This will help improve the image quality produced by under-display cameras.
Long Wait for Under-Display Camera Technology
According to the report, it will be a long wait for under-display camera technology to arrive on the iPhone. Apple is expected to adopt the under-panel Face ID technology in 2025's iPhone 17. The first all-screen iPhone with under-display camera technology could potentially debut in 2027 with the iPhone 19.
With Apple's focus on innovation and pushing the boundaries of smartphone technology, the introduction of under-display camera technology could bring us closer to an iPhone with a truly all-screen design. However, until then, users will have to wait patiently for these advancements to become a reality.
