Under-screen Face ID reportedly delayed to 2026 iPhone 18 Pro models

The much-anticipated under-screen Face ID feature for iPhones may see yet another delay, with rumors now suggesting it won't debut until the 2026 iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models.

Initially projected for the iPhone 17 Pro lineup, the technology was expected to replace the traditional camera notch with pinhole front-facing cameras. However, according to Display Supply Consultants' Ross Young, the under-screen Face ID is being pushed back to 2026.

If the revised timeline holds true, the iPhone 18 Pro models will be the first to feature under-screen Face ID, while non-Pro models may have to wait until the iPhone 19 in late 2027.

Young also predicts technical advancements for the iPhone 17 range, including a shift from low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) to low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) displays across all models by 2025. Since the iPhone 14 Pro, LTPO displays have enabled the always-on feature while conserving battery life.

The iPhone 17 lineup, expected in fall 2025, is likely to feature LTPO displays across all models, suggesting the "always-on" functionality will become standard.