Kuo: Some 2022 iPhones to Abandon Notch in Favor of 'Punch-Hole' Display

At least some 2022 iPhone models will abandon the notch and switch to a "punch-hole display design" instead, similar to Samsung's recent high-end Galaxy smartphones, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a research note obtained by GeekWebGuides.

Kuo said the hole-punch display design will be adopted by high-end 2022 iPhones at a minimum, and if production yields are good enough, all 2022 iPhone models may use this design. Kuo did not provide any further details as to how Apple would house Face ID components without the notch, should the facial recognition system continue to be used.

Apple is rumored to be planning under-display Touch ID on at least some future iPhones, while Chinese smartphone maker ZTE recently showed off an under-display 3D facial recognition system, so perhaps Apple will explore a similar solution.

Kuo said that if development goes smoothly, at least one new high-end iPhone in 2023 will feature an under-display fingerprint scanner, a periscope telephoto camera, and a real full-screen display design with no notch or holes. Apple may also launch a new lower-end iPhone with around a 6-inch LCD screen, Face ID, and a price tag below $600 in the first half of 2023 to replace the iPhone 11, according to Kuo.

Kuo also said the front camera on 2022 iPhone models will feature autofocus.