Thanks to an online leak, we got an early glimpse of the iPhone 12 display, which looks a lot like recent iPhone screens. Bad news for those who were hoping Apple would shrink the notch on the next model.

The leaked image appears to be a panel of Mr. iPhone 12, a Twitter user who has a habit of posting pictures of various iPhone components, including the upcoming A14 Bionic processor, though that tweet has since disappeared from Twitter, MacRumors captured it before it disappeared.

A subsequent tweet by Mr. White showed the panel more clearly, and the person who leaked it this time noted that the new panel is the "same Face ID size."

If so, it will disappoint those who have been clinging to rumors that Apple will shrink the phone's signature notch because it will take up less space for the sensors and camera that make up the iPhone's Face ID image recognition system. Just a few days ago, leaker Jon Prosser said that the move to a smaller notch was "almost a done deal."

It is no secret that Apple hopes to eventually reduce and possibly eliminate the notch on its smartphones. Reports last year suggested that future Apple smartphones would not include a notch, which was not expected to happen until 2021.

It is fair to say that the iPhone notch divides opinion: first introduced in 2017 with the iPhone X, the notch gives Apple phones a distinctive look that Android device makers have copied. The notch also supports Face ID, giving Apple an edge over other devices with its secure face unlock feature, not to mention the fun messaging feature with animoji characters.

However, the iPhone's notch means that Apple's phone still has a little bezel bulge in the display. One look at the just-announced Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will show the advantage of having an unobstructed display area.

As more and more Android phone manufacturers adopt minimal bezels on their phones, Apple may feel pressured to do the same. Whether that will begin to happen with the iPhone 12, however, remains to be seen.