20th Anniversary iPhone to Feature Custom 'Micro-Curved' OLED Panel

[MacRumors]

For its 20th-anniversary iPhone, Apple is tapping Samsung to produce a custom micro-curved OLED display that is brighter and thinner than existing panels, according to new supply chain information out of China.

Apple is reportedly considering a radical redesign for the 20th-anniversary iPhone that could feature a completely bezel-less display that curves around all four edges of the device.

To that end, Apple is said to be seeking from Samsung an equal-depth quad-curved panel design that uses "micro-curves" to keep the curve very shallow, as opposed to the aggressively curved "waterfall" edges of some existing Samsung panels.

Apple's preference for slightly rounded edges may ensure that the device feels softer in the hand and that swipes from the edge of the display feel more natural. It could also prevent distortion of on-screen content around the edges.

The latest supply chain information comes from Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station, who also says that Apple wants a "pol-less" display from Samsung – in other words, a panel design that removes the polarizer layer that sits on top of most current OLED screens.

That claim lines up with a September 2025 report out of Korea that said Apple will adopt a Samsung-made OLED technology called COE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) to make the 20th-anniversary iPhone's display brighter and thinner than previous panels.

COE displays remove the polarizing film from an OLED panel, applying the color filter directly onto the encapsulation layer of the display.

The technique reduces the thickness of the overall display stack, and it lets more light through to improve brightness while reducing power draw. Reflections are harder to deal with when there's no polarizing film, but in its latest iPhones, Apple added a new anti-reflective coating that is expected to be improved for future versions of the iPhone.

Apple is also said to be employing a crater-shaped light diffusion layer in the display to even out the brightness so that the screen looks uniformly lit across all areas.

2027 will mark the 20th-anniversary of the iPhone, and Apple reportedly wants to create a high-end all-glass model that doesn't have cutouts in the display.

Display analyst Ross Young said that Apple won't have under-display ‌Face ID‌ ready to go for a 2027 iPhone, but other leakers think it's possible. If Apple can't get everything under the display, we may see under-display ‌Face ID‌ and then a small hole-punch cutout on the front for the front-facing camera.

The latest rumors suggest that Apple is still testing an under-display iPhone camera for 2027, so it remains a possibility.

Article Link: 20th Anniversary iPhone to Feature Custom 'Micro-Curved' OLED Panel

 

[Reason077]

So there really is going to be a Twentieth Anniversary Phone (TAP)? Nice!

But I guess despite Apple being founded 50 years ago, they didn't want to call it the Fiftieth Anniversary Phone (FAP)?

 

[Jason2000]

So there really is going to be a Twentieth Anniversary Phone (TAP)? Nice!

But I guess despite Apple being founded 50 years ago, they didn't want to call it the Fiftieth Anniversary Phone (FAP)?

It would make no sense considering the iPhone will be 20 and not 50.

 

[fullauto]

I really hope this happens. Capacitive buttons, all screen, under screen everything, 200mp camera. It’s been in the pipeline for years, Ives slab of glass. Let’s go.

 

[ThailandToo]

No bezel should mean, no notch and no islands too. Not sure I want the curved display but definitely want no notch or islands. Would take a hole-punch camera like Android devices have.

I really want something amazing from a 20th anniversary iPhone. Not sure this is it. How about just a distraction-free display, no bezel visible, FaceID under the display or some other way to use TouchID and eliminate the camera button if we can’t decide how we want to use it ourselves.

Let’s not do no USB C port. Silicon carbon battery sounds good at 7,000MAh.

 

[MrRom92]

I like the iPhone XX all glass concept, I just can’t imagine what they actually intend to display in such an area.

 

[klasma]

So there really is going to be a Twentieth Anniversary Phone (TAP)? Nice!

That would be a TaiPhone.

 

[Roll0]

"20th Anniversary iPhone to Feature Custom 'Micro-Curved' OLED Panel"

Hopefully not!

 

[macduke]

Ternus: “Introducing our most breakable iPhone ever!”

 

[Velora Bloom]

It just sounds so frigging neat. I love things that are basically tech demos. I think I’m gonna see if the battery in my 14PM can be replaced and then wait for this one. I don’t need a new phone but if they’re going to make something bold I’d reward that with my money.

 

[Avatar74]

First, let me preface this by saying that I'm a lifelong Apple user beginning with the Apple][ and //c. I don't generally think negatively about their products (usually I tend to examine the positives).

That said, this looks like a solution in search of a problem, and the problem will be that the key controls of the phone, e.g. ringer, volume, screen lock, etc., might be non-tactile. If that is true, that would be taking the long way around to discovering the silliness of having many car features embedded within a UI instead of tactile controls you can easily locate without taking your eyes off the road.

I'm curious how the new CEO is going to balance form and function having come from hardware engineering... it appears that his focus has been AI and that's cause for concern, at least from my end.

 

[uacd]

Oh, Apple finally salvaging Samsung’s tech from 7 years ago? What a joke… People are gonna hate it even more than rumored iFold/iFlop

 

[HouseLannister]

So Samsung launches a curved phone S27 this January? Got it.

 

[CATiNTHESTORE]

Personally, I would be happy with full screen even without all of this front facing cameras and Face ID sensors. Just give me full screen and scanner in power button. That’s it . I don’t care about how I will unlock my phone: Face ID or Touch ID, - just don’t care, as I don’t care about front facing cameras… Front facing cameras are silly thing on the phones … For the meetings you use your Mac or external camera setup. “Calling on the go” just use your regular call, in like 95%cases it is just silly FaceTime conversation about nothing . It is my subjective opinion, so it’s what it is.

 

[ThomasJL]

All I have to say is “B.B.B.” (Bring Back Bezels):

The bezel-lovers coming out of the closet thread

Bezel-lovers of the world, UNITE! Let's unite under this one thread. It's time for us to come out of the closet and declare our love for bezels. I'll start. I'm ThomasJL, and I'm a bezel-lover. I love how bezels make room for a home button. I love how bezels allow for Touch ID. I love how...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Apple is reportedly considering a radical redesign for the 20th-anniversary iPhone that could feature a completely bezel-less display that curves around all four edges of the device.

For what benefit? Also, the people who use a case (88% of users) will cover part of the display now? Solution is search of a problem. Don't see it happening and these stories talking about it coming are just wasting people's time.

 

[cogitodexter]

I like the iPhone XX all glass concept, I just can’t imagine what they actually intend to display in such an area.

In general use it'll be just the edge of the display disappearing into infinity - like the wallpaper on the menu screen. Where an edge needs to be clearly defined I suspect iOS would need to accommodate an app choosing to present itself within the display rather than round the edges, possibly under user control in Settings per-app? There will be apps where information blurring off the edge would be unfortunate and make them less usable.

 

[Koni17]

I would love a bezel-less curved display, but if you remember how many of the curved display Galaxy devices had smashed screens due to not having metal corners, in practice it's just not worth the tradeoff.

 

[uacd]

So there really is going to be a Twentieth Anniversary Phone (TAP)? Nice!

But I guess despite Apple being founded 50 years ago, they didn't want to call it the Fiftieth Anniversary Phone (FAP)?

Would have been a good joke if Apple got back to their roots of theatrical live keynotes. I remember the days they have been making jokes live at stage, like “Mac OS Weed”

 

[tomtad]

“Apple's preference for slightly rounded edges may ensure that the device feels softer in the hand and that swipes from the edge of the display feel more natural. It could also prevent distortion of on-screen content around the edges”

No, Apple’s preference WILL create distortion around the edges. Anything where a display has curves the colours change.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Personally, I would be happy with full screen even without all of this front facing cameras and Face ID sensors. Just give me full screen and scanner in power button. That’s it.

That's most certainly not happening. You may as well let that one go.

 

[CATiNTHESTORE]

That's most certainly not happening. You may as well let that one go.

Yeap, and I completely understand it )

 

[sunapple]

Apple: goes the extra 1,000 miles/dollars for slightly more screen than a Samsung Edge phone from a decade ago.

Average buyer: slapping a pre-discoloured $2 clear TPU case on this thing faster than Cook says goodbye.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

front facing cameras… Front facing cameras are silly thing on the phones … For the meetings you use your Mac or external camera setup. “Calling on the go” just use your regular call, in like 95%cases it is just silly FaceTime conversation about nothing . It is my subjective opinion, so it’s what it is.

I can’t believe someone who lived through the pandemic can still believe this lol.
Can’t count how many posts I’ve read over the last six years from hospital staff saying how FaceTime and the like is the only way some families got to have final goodbyes with family members.

 

[k1121j]

I don’t know if micro curve is anything like “virtually crease free” my guess is this means beveled edges.