[ET NEWS] After years of efforts to realize the ultimate “full-screen” phone design, Apple is expected to ditch the black notch at the top of the latest iPhone X possibly from next year, according to industry sources on March 7.

“Apple has decided to remove the notch from next year and has already started discussing technical issues with suppliers,” an industry source told ET News on condition of anonymity. Detailed specifics such as the size and shape of the OLED-based display have not yet been unveiled, he added. 

Sources say the front-facing camera and sensors for Face ID, a sophisticated 3-D facial recognition system that is expected to be featured for all new iPhones from this year, could be relocated under the display panel or a tiny hole is likely to remain to support some functions.

The iPhone X

Apple has poured considerable resources into making a phone as dominated by the screen as possible. For the iPhone X, the first OLED iPhone launched last year, it removed the bezels and fingerprint sensor.

Despite Apple being mocked for the distracting and aesthetically displeasing notch in early days of the phone launch, more handset makers, especially Chinese runner-ups, are increasingly copying the design for their new phones, using it as a selling point. 

In the meantime, Apple plans to launch three new iPhones this year -- two OLED and one LCD models. While the OLED models are likely to come with 5.85- and 6.46-inch screens, the LCD model is expected to have a 6.04-inch screen. 

By Yoon Kun-il (benyun@etnews.com)
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