Evidence grows for ‘hole punch’ camera in iPhone 14

By

Replacing iPhone notch with holepunch camera makes no damn sense
Two generally reliable sources now say the iPhone 14 will have a hole punch camera.
Artists concept: Cult of Mac

A trusted analyst has backed up a recent leak that the iPhone 14 will replace the screen notch with a hole punch camera. And there are other significant changes reportedly coming in the 2022 model.

But TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo pushed back his prediction for when some much-anticipated features will reach the iPhone.

Hole punch camera in iPhone 14 Pro

In a note to investors seen by Cult of Mac, Kuo said Moday that Apple’s 2022 lineup will include “two new high-end models equipped with a punch-hole display (replacing the notch area design).” Presumably, the non-Pro models will keep the notch.

Tipster Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech recently made a similar prediction. But there’s skepticism from a rival analyst that Apple will have the technology in 2022 to build the Face ID scanner under the display — necessary to replace the wide notch with a small hole punch just for the front-facing camera.

And the iPhone 14 Pro could get a dramatic rear-facing Wide camera upgrade. Kuo predicts it’ll have a 48MP resolution, up from the current 12MP one.

Delays for under-screen Touch ID and folding iPhone

Kuo’s latest iPhone predictions don’t stop with the 2022 lineup. But the news isn’t good. He previously forecasted that Apple would launch an iPhone with under-display Touch ID in 2022 and follow that with a folding iPhone in 2023. Not anymore.

“We have revised our forecast to delay the launch of the iPhone with under-display fingerprint and the foldable iPhone to 2H23 and 2024, respectively, due to lower than expected development progress,” the analyst wrote Monday.

There’s quite a bit of interest from iPhone users for in-display Touch ID, and they’ll surely be disappointed if it isn’t available for two more years.

A foldable iPhone is … controversial. There are many people who like the idea of a pocket-size device with an 8-inch screen, and some analysts predict flexible handsets are the future of the market. On the other hand, some fans of the traditional iPhone design are vocal about their lack of interest.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.