The rumored iPhone 20 Pro Max may not deliver the futuristic, nearly all-screen design that Apple fans have been anticipating.

According to a new leak, the anniversary model could retain the Dynamic Island rather than moving its front-facing camera and Face ID system entirely beneath the display.

Instead, its biggest design upgrade may be a quad-curved screen, with glass extending around all four edges and an elegant combination of glass and metal.

Apple-focused tipster AppleLeaker claimed on social media platform X that the iPhone 20 Pro Max would feature neither an under-display selfie camera nor under-display Face ID sensors.

The company would reportedly retain a Dynamic Island similar in size to the one found on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The claim runs counter to expectations that Apple would use the iPhone's 20th anniversary to introduce a revolutionary new design.

Earlier rumors suggested the company was developing an almost entirely uninterrupted display, with components that traditionally occupy space on the front of the device concealed beneath the screen.

If the latest leak proves accurate, Apple may not yet be ready to make that radical transition.

Quad-curved display could be the biggest design change

Rather than eliminating the Dynamic Island entirely, Apple may be focusing on a different approach to smartphone displays.

According to AppleLeaker, the 20th-anniversary iPhone could feature a quad-curved display, meaning the screen would curve along all four edges.

The concept is not entirely new in the Android smartphone market.

Devices such as the OnePlus 13 and Motorola Edge 70 Pro+ have adopted design approaches involving curved display edges, creating the impression that the screen extends toward the outer boundaries of the handset.

However, Apple could take the concept further with the iPhone 20 Pro Max.

The rumored design would combine a four-sided curved display with a distinctive body structure in which glass wraps around the device, while a metal band runs through the middle.

Such an approach could give the phone a more premium appearance while maintaining the structural strength needed for everyday use.

AppleLeaker said the display-related information was based on the technology roadmap of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), a research firm known for its forecasts of developments in display technology.

According to the tipster, DSCC has a strong track record in predicting changes in smartphone displays.

However, AppleLeaker also cautioned that Apple's hardware plans could still change before the device enters mass production.

A design currently considered the most likely option does not necessarily represent the final specifications of the commercial product.

Apple reportedly abandoned a fully glass iPhone over manufacturing challenges

The latest leak also broadly aligns with earlier reporting from Bloomberg.

Technology journalist Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple was still planning a major design overhaul for the iPhone's 20th anniversary.

According to that reporting, Apple is pursuing a design in which glass wraps around the edges of the device, with a metal band running through the middle of the body.

The arrangement could produce a more seamless appearance, significantly different from that of current iPhone models.

Notably, Apple reportedly explored an even more ambitious version featuring a body made almost entirely of glass.

That concept was eventually abandoned because of substantial manufacturing challenges.

The decision highlights a familiar dilemma for Apple: balancing ambitious industrial design with the practical demands of mass production.

A design may look impressive in prototype form but become difficult to manufacture when production must scale to tens or even hundreds of millions of devices.

The iPhone 20 Pro Max could therefore represent a compromise between two competing priorities.

Apple wants a distinctive design worthy of celebrating two decades of the iPhone, but it must also avoid creating serious problems involving production feasibility and device durability.

iPhone 20 Pro Max could feature a nearly 7-inch display

Beyond its physical design, screen size could be another major change for Apple's anniversary iPhone lineup.

According to Chinese technology tipster Digital Chat Station, Apple is reportedly testing a 6.41-inch display for the iPhone 20 Pro and a much larger 6.96-inch panel for the iPhone 20 Pro Max.

If these specifications make it into the final product, the iPhone 20 Pro Max could feature the largest display yet on a conventional iPhone, coming close to the 7-inch mark.

The increased screen size would push the device further toward the boundary between traditional smartphones and larger-screen mobile devices.

It could also provide additional viewing space for watching videos, playing games, editing photographs and using artificial intelligence-powered applications.

However, there is a notable contradiction between the various leaks.

One earlier report suggested that the iPhone 20 lineup could feature a smaller Dynamic Island than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

AppleLeaker, by contrast, claims that the anniversary model will retain a Dynamic Island of approximately the same size as its predecessor.

The conflicting reports suggest that Apple may still be experimenting with several design configurations before settling on a final approach.

For now, the company has not confirmed any of the rumored specifications or design details.

Even the official name of the 20th-anniversary iPhone lineup remains uncertain.

If Apple maintains its traditional annual launch schedule, the special edition models could arrive around September 2027.

That leaves the company considerable time to revise the design, adjust hardware components and refine its manufacturing strategy before the devices reach consumers.

Hai Phong