So far, claims that Apple will fundamentally redesign the display of its flagship iPhone have been limited to leaked schematics and artist renderings. But not anymore.
A spate of new leaks appears to have exposed Apple’s notchless iPhone 14 Pro for the first time. Additionally, Apple may have revealed the technology behind this eye-opening design change.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max renders based on leaked schematics
First, leaks. The big news comes from Duan Rui, a Chinese salesman with an excellent track record, who shared real photos of the new iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max displays, with one of the screens turned on. As previous leaks have suggested, the notch is replaced by a dual punch-hole design. The punch hole is much bigger than initial reports last year when news of the design change broke.
First claim image of iPhone 14 Pro dual punch hole display
On top of that, ShrimpApplePro, the first leaker to reveal Apple’s plans for a dual-punch hole design, has shared screenshots showing how Apple will tweak the iPhone 14 Pro display to address the new punch hole question. The images (via MacRumors) claim to show the iPhone 14 Pro Max UI superimposed on the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Although the punch hole is smaller than the notch, Apple allegedly Moved the iOS cellular, WiFi and battery icons to a slightly lower and more right position. There’s been a lot of discussion online about whether the hole punch would allow Apple to include another icon in the status bar, and this image points in that direction.
iPhone 14 Pro Max allegedly tweaked with new punch-hole display
Finally, prolific Samsung leaker Ice Universe broke out of their usual turf, sharing an image of the iPhone 14 Pro dummy unit, which also highlights the new punch-hole design. With mass production of all models well underway, you can expect the flurry of leaks to continue.
iPhone 14 Pro dummy showing new punch-hole design
It’s important to underscore how stunning this new iPhone 14 Pro display represents. Just last year, Apple introduced a redesigned MacBook with a display notch that (arguably) unified the company’s design language. It’s also seen as a statement that the notch is here to stay until the under-display camera technology is up to Apple’s high standards.
But the iPhone 14 Pro’s hole-punch is a match for it all. This explains why so many industry commentators remain skeptical.
So how will Apple implement this change on a technical level? A new patent application discovered by expert site Patently Apple may have just dropped the game. The app shows how to use “optical folding elements” to redirect infrared light, a key part of Face ID. As Apple explains:
“Since the light-folding element can change the direction of IR light transmission, IR light emitters may not necessarily be limited to a specific mounting location. Instead, IR light emitters can be placed In a less space-constrained location, and using a light-folding element to project IR light in a specific direction. This can reduce the overall size of the imaging and sensing assembly, thereby reducing the size of the notch used to hold the imaging and sensing assembly , and increase the display area of ​​the device.”
Only a handful of Apple’s patented technologies have ever made it to commercial release. That said, the timing of this patent does not appear to be a coincidence.
Either way, 2022 will be Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro models, and the entry-level iPhone 14 and the new iPhone 14 Max are basically revamped versions of the iPhone 13. If you can afford their higher price, the Pro is the way to go.
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