Apple's Screen Revolution: Shrinking Dynamic Island in 2025 Paves Way for All-Screen 20th Anniversary iPhone in 2026

Apple's Screen Revolution: Shrinking Dynamic Island in 2025 Paves Way for All-Screen 20th Anniversary iPhone in 2026

Apple's journey towards a truly seamless, all-screen iPhone face is accelerating, with new reports outlining a clear, multi-year roadmap culminating in a landmark 20th-anniversary redesign. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the evolution will involve incremental steps before a major leap.

The Immediate Future: A Smaller Dynamic Island (2025)

• Gurman reports in his Power On newsletter that next year's iPhone models (presumably the iPhone 18 series) will feature a physically smaller Dynamic Island.
• This continues the trend of minimizing the display cutout that began with the transition from the large iPhone X notch to the more interactive Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro.

The 2026 Milestone: The 20th Anniversary iPhone Redesign

• Gurman states that the following year (2026), coinciding with the iPhone's 20th anniversary, Apple will release a significantly redesigned flagship model.
• Key features of this redesign are expected to include:
  • Curved Glass Edges: A return to curved screen edges, reminiscent of the iPhone X/XS era but likely more refined.
  • Extraordinarily Slim Bezels: Pushing the boundaries of screen-to-body ratio further than ever before.
  • The Path to Truly Edge-to-Edge: Most crucially, Gurman reiterates his previous claim that this model will move towards a display with no visible cutout, representing a major step towards the ultimate all-screen goal.

Navigating Conflicting Reports: Under-Screen Tech Timeline

• Last month, The Information's Wayne Ma reported that 2025's iPhone 18 Pro models would integrate under-screen Face ID technology.
• Ma stated this would allow the removal of the pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout, leaving only a small circular hole-punch in the top-left corner for the front-facing camera.
• The Contradiction: Gurman's report of a smaller Dynamic Island persisting in 2025 seems at odds with Ma's report of the pill cutout disappearing that same year. This discrepancy highlights the fluid nature of Apple's development process and supply chain challenges.
• The Consensus: Regardless of the exact 2025 implementation, both reports strongly point towards under-screen Face ID arriving before the under-screen front camera. The ultimate goal remains clear: eliminate all visible front-facing hardware.

The Ultimate Goal: The First True All-Screen iPhone (Likely 2027)

• Both Gurman and Ma, along with other analysts, consistently point to 2027 as the target for the first iPhone model featuring both under-screen Face ID and an under-screen front camera.
• This would finally deliver the long-envisioned, truly seamless, uninterrupted "all-screen" front face on an iPhone.

The Gradual Evolution: From Notch to Nothing
This roadmap underscores Apple's methodical approach to display innovation:

1. 2017 (iPhone X): Eliminated Touch ID/home button and thick bezels, introducing Face ID and the "notch."
2. 2022 (iPhone 14 Pro): Shrunk the notch into the more dynamic and interactive "Dynamic Island."
3. 2025 (iPhone 18 Series): Expected to either physically shrink the Dynamic Island or replace it with a smaller hole-punch (under-screen Face ID).
4. 2026 (20th Anniversary iPhone): Major redesign featuring curved glass, ultra-slim bezels, and significant progress towards the edge-to-edge vision (potentially just a tiny camera hole-punch remains).
5. 2027: Anticipated debut of the first iPhone with no visible front cutouts or holes, featuring fully integrated under-screen Face ID and front camera technology.

The discovery of the clownfish wallpaper hinting at the iPhone 17 Air now fits into this larger narrative of Apple relentlessly pursuing thinner designs and more expansive, uninterrupted displays. The next few years promise to be transformative for the iconic iPhone silhouette.