20th Anniversary iPhone's Display May Have No Visible Frame or Bezels

[MacRumors]

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, claims a new report out of Korea.

ETNews writes that Apple is aiming to use "four-edge bending" display technology for the 2027 iPhone that would curve not just along the left and right sides as seen in some current smartphones, but also wrap around the top and bottom edges. This would create a truly borderless visual experience with content flowing seamlessly across all sides of the device.

This follows a report by Bloomberg over the weekend that said Apple plans to launch a "mostly glass, curved iPhone without any cutouts in the display." The Information last week also cited multiple sources claiming that at least one new iPhone model launching in 2027 will have a truly edge-to-edge display. Bloomberg previously reported that the device would be a Pro model in Apple's 2027 lineup.

Based on the latest report, the ambitious design would eliminate traditional screen borders entirely, potentially marking one of the most significant design shifts in the iPhone's history since the 10th anniversary iPhone X, which saw Apple drop the Home button, introduce a notched display, and adopt an intuitive swipe gesture-based navigation interface.

The new display technology is said to be part of Apple's broader push toward next-generation hardware for the commemorative iPhone. The company is also reportedly looking to develop an OLED display driver IC (DDI) based on 16nm FinFET process technology, instead of the traditional 28nm planar process currently used.

The display driver technology would apparently deliver significant power efficiency improvements, which is likely to be increasingly important as smartphones get thinner and enhanced on-device AI features demand more power. The report also claims that Apple's 20th anniversary iPhone could include pure silicon batteries instead of graphite-based ones for increased energy density.

Apple is expected to begin discussions with OLED suppliers Samsung Display and LG Display about implementing the advanced technologies for the anniversary model, according to the report.

Technical Challenges

Achieving a four-sided curved all-display design would present Apple with some major technical challenges, such as placing the front-facing sensors, cameras, and speakers under the display.

As a stepping stone towards this all-screen design in 2027, The Information on Tuesday reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with under-screen Face ID, with only a small pinhole remaining for the front camera on those devices. Counterpoint Research vice president Ross Young has since corroborated the report.

As for the front-facing camera, several Android phones already feature under-display selfie cameras, and Apple has reportedly been working on its own solution for some time. According to an April 2024 report, LG Innotek – one of Apple's Korean suppliers – is developing under-display cameras that leave no visible hole when inactive. These systems use a "freeform optic" multiple lens array designed to reduce image distortion and improve brightness, compensating for the light loss that typically occurs when a camera sits behind a display.

However, another concern adopting a four-sided curved all-screen design would be structural integrity, since bending the screen on all sides would introduce new stress points that could be more vulnerable to damage from drops. The described design could also require big changes to user interaction. With no bezels to rest fingers on, Apple would likely need to develop new palm-rejection algorithms and potentially revise iOS gesture navigation for edge-sensitive input.

Assuming the reports are accurate, Apple has some major hardware and software hurdles to overcome over the next two years. If the company can pull it off though, such a design sounds like a fitting way to celebrate two decades of Apple's most iconic product.

Article Link: 20th Anniversary iPhone's Display May Have No Visible Frame or Bezels

 

[abatabia]

I really didn’t need to be talked out of skipping the 17, and stories like this, for me, drive the point home.

 

[germanbeer007]

and then samsung will now have a phone in 1-2 years without visible frames or bezels just so that they can say FIRSTTTTT

 

[Kylo83]

I wish but knowing Apple now days this will be delayed

 

[bLackjackj]

Apple is expected to begin discussions with OLED suppliers Samsung Display

April 2027,..Samsung announces the first truly curved phone on the market 🤦‍♂️

 

[Koni17]

I've been holding out on upgrading my iPhone 13 Pro for a phone like this, perfect timing if it does come out next year.

 

[Kylo83]

I've been holding out on upgrading my iPhone 13 Pro for a phone like this, perfect timing if it does come out next year.

Not next year, it’s 2027

 

[hugogogo2003]

Sorry but what's the point if it becomes obviously impossible to use without a case because the glass is no longer protected? You put on a case and you suddenly lose the curvature and have thick bezels from the case.

Unless they manage to develop a new kind of glass that's somehow 10x more resistant than Ceramic Shield, which I find highly unlikely, this seems like a useless gimmick and false innovation. UNLESS they already have a new glass technology that they wanted to keep for the 20th anniversary phone.

 

[Unami]

It will have a frame and bezels after you add the obligatory case. Or be prepared to pay an arm, a leg and a kidney to replace most of the phone if that wraparound glass develops a crack.

 

[crisneat]

As cool as it sounds, I guess a design like that wouldn’t even allow for a proper case, right? You probably couldn’t put one on without covering the display which kind of defeats the point. And with curved glass on all four sides, it feels like one bad drop away from disaster.

Would anyone actually feel comfortable carrying that around without a case?

 

[bLackjackj]

Sorry but what's the point if it becomes obviously impossible to use without a case because the glass is no longer protected?

Is it that hard to look after your phone? I'm sure there would be cases with see through elements, if in fact it does get released. No different to fold up and fold out phones now.

 

[Fuzzball84]

The iPhones since the iPhone X have truly looked amazing. Outside their cases

But real world usage dictates that cases are almost always necessary. I’ve had a case for every single iPhone I’ve had since the 3GS (even that needed a case because the back would become horrendously scratched in a matter of weeks if not covered).

So the case almost always needs to be factored in, which means that beautiful design is hidden for the phones entire functional life.

Maybe Apple should focus on creating some amazing cases. Rather than a work of art iPhone and a relatively cheap, uninspiring case.

 

[crisneat]

Is it that hard to look after your phone?

Sure, it’s possible to “look after your phone,” but accidents happen and case manufacturers exist for a reason. The case industry is worth billions, and even Apple sells their own cases with every new iPhone.

Phones are everyday objects. People carry them everywhere pockets, bags, gyms, bars, concerts. A fully exposed, all-glass device it’s not realistic for daily use.

What happens when it falls and hits an edge, which, by the way, is the most likely impact point?

 

[Unami]

Maybe Apple should focus on creating some amazing cases. Rather than a work of art iPhone and a relatively cheap, uninspiring case.

At least they shoud design the phones with cases in mind. Or design them in a way that those cases are not necessary (a.k.a. "design is how it works"). Or create cases that are less boring and last longer (or have a price <$10, reflecting their quality). Remember the iPhone 5c cases with holes? Those white magsafe attachment points also look pretty fugly imho - looks like a bank-logo. For me that's the main reason why I still have no case with those.

There are some fun third-party cases, though. Atm, I use cases from caseology to add some color.

 

[SW3029]

But real world usage dictates that cases are almost always necessary. I’ve had a case for every single iPhone I’ve had since the 3GS (even that needed a case because the back would become horrendously scratched in a matter of weeks if not covered).

So the case almost always needs to be factored in, which means that beautiful design is hidden for the phones entire functional life.

I never use iPhone cases. My iPhone 16 Pro was slapped out of my hand, fell five feet to a concrete floor, and then slid across it. There was no broken or cracked glass anywhere, and there are no scratches. In my experience, cases are no longer necessary, thanks to Ceramic Shield.

 

[Arctic Moose]

Interesting choice to say "intuitive swipe gesture-based navigation" in the same breath as "drop the Home button".

I am not saying this change was necessarily wrong, but it is definitely less discoverable and more error-prone.

 

[Calle68]

A design that no one will see in person (being covered by a case in the 100% of cases).

 

[widestload]

Will be interesting to see how screen protector manufacturers approach this. just sticking a flat piece of glass in the middle wont cut it if the screen is on the edges. As for the corners, imaging the damage from a drop to it? but then again how do you put a case over it? Massive increase in Applecare sales anyone?

 

[fatTribble]

I want to be excited and maybe the coffee hasn’t kicked in, but…

Will the edges of the screen be hard to read either because of the curve of the screen or your fingers covering the screen?

I’d still rather have a display that does Star Wars holographic chess so I can play against a Wookie

 

[ForkHandles]

The Apple Watch has curved display. Makes it impossible to use a screen protector.

No thank you.

 

[stocklen]

I really didn’t need to be talked out of skipping the 17, and stories like this, for me, drive the point home.

Thats the trouble with rumour sites now looking so far into the future.

They no longer seem content with fully revealing the next phone 6 months ahead of release - we are now talking about the one after, AND the one after that!


If you are in the market for a new phone, best advice is buy it - there will ALWAYS be better next year and the year after. You'd never buy anything if always waiting for the next gen+1

 

[123]

Sorry but what's the point if it becomes obviously impossible to use without a case because the glass is no longer protected? You put on a case and you suddenly lose the curvature and have thick bezels from the case.

Unless they manage to develop a new kind of glass that's somehow 10x more resistant than Ceramic Shield, which I find highly unlikely, this seems like a useless gimmick and false innovation. UNLESS they already have a new glass technology that they wanted to keep for the 20th anniversary phone.

They also have to develop something to detect if I touch the edge accidentally or deliberately, which is impossible. It's a useless gimmick.

 

[Fuzzball84]

I never use iPhone cases. My iPhone 16 Pro was slapped out of my hand, fell five feet to a concrete floor, and then slid across it. There was no broken or cracked glass anywhere, and there are no scratches. In my experience, cases are no longer necessary, thanks to Ceramic Shield.

Several reviewers have noticed scratches on latest iPhones after just weeks of usage. You were lucky, more worrying is why it was slapped out of your hand 😂

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I never use iPhone cases. My iPhone 16 Pro was slapped out of my hand, fell five feet to a concrete floor, and then slid across it. There was no broken or cracked glass anywhere, and there are no scratches. In my experience, cases are no longer necessary, thanks to Ceramic Shield.

Yea, while my coworker had her 16 pro Max slide off her desk on to a laminate floor and the back shattered.

I'm going to continue to use a case..if for no other reason other than the phone feeling like crap in the hand. I don't like the squared sides, and since I always lay my phone face-down, I want a lip around the screen.

I would break my phones weekly without a case. I'm too active and spend too much time outside to not use one.

 

[swingerofbirch]

I would have broken every iPhone I've owned on a daily basis if not for a case. With a case and screen protector, I never have. I understand there are purists who are not clumsy like I am. This sounds like it will be for them.