You either ignore the MacBook notch entirely, or you can’t stand looking at it. There’s not much middle ground. But if a new Apple patent about their Macbook camera redesign is any indication, that little black dip on your screen might not be sticking around forever.
The patent — and yes, it’s real, and recently granted — explores new ways of embedding cameras into MacBooks. The headline idea? A reworked camera module that does its job without needing to carve into your display. Apple’s calling it “Camera integration for portable electronic devices.” Sounds boring. It’s not.
So What’s Actually New Here?
For starters, this isn’t Apple’s first run at this issue. They already filed a similar patent in 2024, which didn’t go anywhere publicly. Now they’ve come back to it, and the fact that they’re doubling down says something. Apple doesn’t refile dead-end ideas unless they see potential.
In the diagrams, the camera setup looks surprisingly compact — under 3mm thick. Not invisible, but small enough that Apple could tuck it somewhere without screaming “compromise.” And yes, there’s a twist: this thing might actually protrude from the lid a little. Unusual for Apple, but maybe the tradeoff is worth it.
There’s a Weird Twist: The Camera Might Not Even Stay in One Place
Some versions of the patent keep the camera in its usual front-and-center spot. Others push it to the side. One even removes it from the front completely and mounts it on the back of the MacBook. That’s where things start getting strange.
In fact, the patent repeatedly mentions the possibility of having multiple camera modules working in sync — possibly with one facing forward, one facing back. Why? Not explained. Apple’s language is vague, probably on purpose.
Then there’s a magnet mentioned — not metaphorically, but literally. The camera might be magnetically attached to the lid, making it either removable or repositionable. That opens up all kinds of possibilities (and questions). Is this something you detach and clip back on? Or something that slides around? Apple doesn’t say — and they don’t have to.
Also, a Rotating Display? Wait, What?
Buried in the patent is a brief, cryptic mention of a “rotatably attached display.” No context. No follow-up. Just a tossed-in idea that the screen might, at some point, rotate. It’s not clear if that’s part of the same concept, or just an extra idea thrown into the mix. Either way, it’s strange. And kind of fascinating.
Apple MacBook camera redesign: Will Apple Actually Do This?
Tough call. Apple files a lot of patents. Most never make it past the lab. But when the same idea shows up more than once — years apart — that usually means something’s happening behind the scenes.
And let’s be real: the notch has always felt like a stopgap. It exists because the camera had to go somewhere, and the bezels were too thin to hide it. But Apple’s industrial design team isn’t the type to accept “good enough” forever. This patent feels like their next step — not necessarily toward something flashier, but toward something cleaner. Maybe the camera moves. Maybe it hides. Maybe the screen rotates. Or maybe we’re looking at a prototype that never sees daylight.
Still, the direction is clear. Apple’s trying to clean up the top of your screen — and they’re running out of reasons not to.
