Love it or hate it, the iPhone’s notch has been one of its most recognizable features. BGR, reporting on a discovery by the Dutch-language site LetsGoDigital, says Apple may eliminate the notch in 2020.
According to the report, LetsGoDigital discovered a number of patents Apple filed with the Japanese Patent Office on December 23, 2019. The drawings that accompany the photos show an iPhone with no notch, and near edge-to-edge glass.
As BGR points out, the notched area currently houses the Face ID components, as well as the selfie camera. The photos would seem to indicate the technology has progressed enough that these components can reside under the screen and still function properly. It’s also possible Apple could use in-screen Touch ID, either on specific models, or in conjunction with Face ID.
Much of the other design elements remain the same, or have only small changes. The one exception is the screen corners, which the drawing shows as rectangular, rather than the rounded corners iPhones currently have.