The selfie camera is often forgotten, yet it's also one of the most noticeable. However, a new rumor suggests this could change with the iPhone 18, but doing so could come at a higher cost than you think.
We've seen all the major Apple releases for this year, meaning the rumor mill is now firmly focused on the iPhone 18. One such leak comes from tipster Smart Pikachu, who stated that the materials used for the new iPhone suggest Apple is testing "under-display 3D technology." This could mean we could see an under-display front camera in the iPhone 18.
Now, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of the iPhone 18 featuring this design, as it’s turned up a fair few times. For instance, one rumor predicted that Apple was planning to implement an under-display Face ID camera for its iPhone 18. According to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, this will allow Apple to minimize the pill cutout used for the iPhone's Dynamic Island.
What does this mean for the iPhone 18 display?
It’s worth noting that Apple isn’t the first company to consider placing the selfie camera under the main display. It makes sense on a conceptual level, as it allows the display to really shine, without a hole-punch camera ruining the seamless feel. However, historically, this has led to a marked drop in photo quality.
For instance, Samsung introduced an under-display camera with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 back in 2021. Unfortunately, the subsequent cameras suffered quality-wise, so much so that Samsung has elected for a more conventional selfie camera in the Galaxy Z Fold 7. That quality issue isn’t limited to Samsung either. I recently reviewed the RedMagic 11 Pro, and once again, the under-display camera's images really weren't great.
With that being said, it is entirely possible that Apple could make an under-display camera work. However, we can't be certain it will be a feature of the iPhone 18, as we have heard that it won't be happening until the iPhone 20. As such, we'll have to wait and see what Apple unveils with the iPhone 18 Pro next year, but we might have to wait until 2027 for the base iPhone 18.
Until then, let us know if you prefer an under-display camera on your phone, or do you worry that it will affect the overall selfie camera quality.
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