We have been waiting for several generations of iPhones for Apple to reduce or eliminate the somewhat divisive display notch. But don't expect the notch to be eliminated in the rumored iPhone 13.

A new patent granted to Apple, discovered by Patently Apple, shows how Cupertino engineers could eliminate the need for a display notch by placing a selfie camera and Face ID sensor under the next-generation iPhone display.

The idea of a Face ID camera and sensor system under the display is not new, and we have heard many rumors and hints that such technology might be included in a future iPhone, possibly the iPhone 14. However, this new patent is worth noting as it details an electronic device with an "adjustable display window."

The broad idea described in the new patent is that the display will have some form of window that can be opened by a mechanism to display "optical components" such as sensors or cameras.

"A display can have a window area. During operation, components such as optical components may operate through the window area. The window region may overlap with a movable portion of the display. The window region may operate in an open/closed state," the patent summarizes.

"In the closed state, the movable portion of the display overlaps the window area and pixels of the movable display portion emit light through the window area. In the open state, the movable portion of the display moves away from the window area, allowing light for the optics to pass through the window area.

This system appears to avoid the shortcomings of current under-display cameras, which attempt to effectively see through the display, but have yet to produce impressive results. For an example, see the ZTE Axon 20 5G review.

In a way, the windowed display approach is a form of evolution of the pop-up selfie camera seen on the OnePlus 7 Pro and others.

The problem is that more moving parts increase the thickness of the smartphone and increase the likelihood of motorized parts failing. However, even if Apple were able to create a robust window display, it is unlikely that it would be incorporated into the iPhone anytime soon.

The iPhone 13 is reportedly likely to have a smaller display cutout, but it is no longer expected to even have a fingerprint scanner under the display. Therefore, we would be surprised if Apple includes an under-display Face ID system in its next flagship smartphone.

But by the time the iPhone 14 inevitably arrives, we expect Apple to have made more progress toward shrinking or even removing the display notch altogether. iPhone 12 has a beautiful OLED display, but by 2021 standards, The chunky notch is quite obtrusive and literally detracts from the usability of the display.

While we may have to wait for Apple to discontinue the display notch, the iPhone 13 will feature a 120Hz display, larger battery, new A15 Bionic chipset, and improved cameras. So the projected September release date is still worth looking forward to.