May 22, 2026, 2:31 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
For months, rumors have been swirling about the “anniversary” iPhone, set to be released in 2027 for the 20th birthday of the Apple smartphone. It is expected to be a special edition—similar to the iPhone X, which was launched alongside the iPhone 8. However, little is known about the other models, likely to be called iPhone 19 Pro and 19 Pro Max.
New iPhones Already in Testing
Now, the well-known leaker Digital Chat Station has released new information about the upcoming smartphones in a Weibo post. According to the post, “the iPhone 19 Pro series is currently in the evaluation and testing phase on the mass production line.” This likely refers to the EVT phase (Engineering Validation Testing)—the first step toward mass production, where the hardware’s functionality is tested.
The leak suggests that Apple is testing devices with a so-called quad-curved display. The display curves over all four edges of the device, blending almost seamlessly into the frame. As a result, visible screen borders are nearly eliminated. In the test run, a small hole-punch cutout for the front camera is reportedly still present in the display. However, the Face ID sensors are completely hidden under the screen.
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iPhone 19 Pro with Anniversary Display?
As “MacRumors” notes, the display curved on all four edges has so far been considered a unique feature for the anniversary iPhone. If the regular Pro devices also receive this feature, Apple would have less room to differentiate the special edition.
One way to distinguish it could be an uninterrupted display without cutouts for Face ID or the front camera. While the Pro models might get Face ID under the display, they would still have a visible camera cutout. This is exactly how Apple is reportedly testing the Pro models according to the leak.
Also interesting: What new devices does Apple have in the pipeline?
Problems with Under-Display Camera
However, according to “MacRumors,” Apple is facing technical challenges in meeting high-quality standards with the under-display front camera. While Face ID apparently works without a cutout, the image quality of the hidden selfie camera remains a challenge.
If the camera cannot be integrated under the screen without quality loss, Apple might not implement the technology for now. This would also make it harder to differentiate between the various models as planned.