Apple’s rumored iPhone 20 Pro may fall short of expectations for a revolutionary all-glass design, as a new leak suggests the 20th-anniversary model could retain a punch-hole selfie camera instead of adopting a completely uninterrupted display.
iPhone 20 Pro may retain a punch-hole selfie camera
Although the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro have only recently launched, rumors about Apple’s next generation of premium smartphones are already gathering momentum.
The iPhone 20 Pro and iPhone 20 Pro Max are attracting particular attention because they are expected to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone.
Earlier leaks suggested Apple could introduce a radical redesign for its anniversary models. One of the most widely discussed possibilities was an all-glass construction with no visible interruptions on the display, delivering a truly edge-to-edge viewing experience.
However, a new leak from Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station points in a different direction.
According to thech-hole front-facing camera rather than placing the entire selfie camera system beneath the display
If accurate, this would mean the iPhone 20 Pro’s screen design might not differ dramatically from current smartphones.
Nevertheless, Apple could still introduce curved glass extending over the edges and wrapping around the corners, giving the device the appearance of being crafted from a seamless piece of glass.
Previous rumors have also suggested that the iPhone 20 Pro models could feature larger displays than the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
If these reports prove accurate, Apple may still deliver a fresh look for its anniversary lineup, although perhaps not the dramatic transformation many had anticipated.
Why Apple may not be ready for an under-display selfie camera
Apple’s possible decision to retain a punch-hole camera instead of adopting an under-display alternative may come down to image quality limitations.
Although under-display camera technology has been available in smartphones for several years, manufacturers have yet to fully overcome its shortcomings, particularly when shooting in challenging lighting conditions.
Notably, Apple introduced its first under-display selfie camera with the iPhone Duo. However, real-world experience suggests the technology has yet to deliver entirely convincing results.
In an in-depth review of the iPhone Duo, technology writer Victor argued that hiding the selfie camera beneath the inner display was a reasonable design choice.
Given the device’s form factor and typical usage patterns, relatively few users would regularly take selfies using that camera.
However, image quality from the 4MP sensor beneath the inner display was significantly worse than that of the selfie camera on the outer screen.
This substantial difference limited the practical usefulness of the internal camera.
Without users who regularly make FaceTime calls while the device is fully unfolded, Apple might even have considered removing the internal camera altogether.
The situation is considerably more complicated for the iPhone 20 Pro.
Unlike the iPhone Duo, which features two separate displays, a conventional slab-style iPhone has no secondary screen that could accommodate another selfie camera.
If Apple moves the front-facing camera beneath the display, it must therefore ensure that image quality remains good enough for everyday photography and video calls.
This could explain why the company may be reluctant to abandon the punch-hole design.
A visually striking smartphone that compromises selfie quality would be a difficult proposition for consumers, particularly in the premium iPhone Pro lineup.
In other words, Apple may be willing to sacrifice some aesthetic appeal to preserve the quality of the user experience.
Such a decision would make sense if under-display camera technology has not yet reached the standards Apple expects.
iPhone 20 Pro design could still change before launch
Although the latest iPhone 20 Pro leak may disappoint some Apple enthusiasts, it remains too early to conclude that the anniversary model will not deliver a major design overhaul.
According to the anticipated launch schedule, the iPhone 20 lineup is still at least 10 months away from its official debut.
During that time, Apple could continue refining the design, testing new technologies or adjusting component arrangements before entering mass production.
Features such as display cutouts, Dynamic Island and punch-hole cameras are not necessarily major concerns for every smartphone user.
In practice, many people become accustomed to these elements within a few days and barely notice them during everyday use.
Nevertheless, expectations for a device celebrating 20 years of the iPhone are understandably high.
Consumers have good reason to hope Apple will deliver a genuine design breakthrough rather than simply shrinking Dynamic Island or making minor cosmetic refinements.
For now, the rumored punch-hole camera remains just that – an unconfirmed detail in a device whose final design has yet to be revealed.
