Apple has successfully secured a new patent for a technology that could enable Face ID to be integrated directly into the display, potentially minimizing the size of the camera cutout.
Although Apple has been exploring this for several years, there are a couple of compelling reasons to believe that this technology might debut in the upcoming iPhone 17 series…
Face ID Integrated into the Display
The concept of placing Face ID emitters and sensors beneath the display has been highlighted in various Apple patents, including one from 2021:
As mentioned, an electronic device can utilize through-display imaging for diverse imaging, sensing, data aggregation, or light capture purposes, including but not limited to […] face recognition.
There were earlier expectations that this feature would appear in the iPhone 15 and then in the iPhone 16, although neither of these predictions materialized.
Recently, Apple was granted an additional patent for a technique to achieve this (as noted by Patently Apple).
The portable device further includes an optical radiation source, which may serve purposes such as 3D mapping or face recognition. The design allows for the placement of this source behind an active display region, as illustrated by a dashed-line frame. This configuration saves display real estate, which would otherwise necessitate housing the source in a notch (commonly used for cameras in other devices).
Two Possible Indicators for the iPhone 17
I recognize the irony in speculating that this might be introduced with the iPhone 17 after it has been previously forecasted for the last two generations! Still, there are a couple of signs that may suggest this time could be different.
Firstly, numerous reports indicate that at least one model this year will feature a smaller display cutout. Jeff Pu mentioned that the iPhone 17 Pro Max may feature a “significantly reduced Dynamic Island.” Placing Face ID beneath the display would be a straightforward way to accomplish this.
Secondly, consider the iPhone 17 Air. Apple’s goal is a sleek design, and transitioning from the Dynamic Island to a camera punch-hole aligns perfectly with that vision.
Additionally, reports suggest that the price of the Air variant might exceed that of the Pro Max, despite featuring only a single camera and lacking the specifications of the Pro models. Could a thinner design sufficiently justify such a price increase? Might this call for additional premium design features, such as a punch-hole display?
Could 2025 be the year when we finally see this technology, either in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the iPhone 17 Air, or both? I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments.
Image: Michael Bower/DMN
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