Apple Said to Release Curved, Bezel-Free 5-Inch and 5.8-Inch iPhones Next Year

[MacRumors]

Apple will release new 5-inch and 5.8-inch iPhones with curved, bezel-free designs next year, according to Barclays Research analysts Blayne Curtis, Christopher Hemmelgarn, Thomas O'Malley, and Jerry Zhang.

The analysts, citing sources within Apple's supply chain following a trip to Asia this week, said the borderless design will allow for the new iPhones to be the same overall size as current 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models.

Larger and Bezel-less - iPhone 8 design didn't sound 100% locked down but we believe the move is to a bezel-less design with screen sizes getting larger and curved edges in the original envelope. The iPhone 8 moves to 5" (from 4.7") and the Plus moves to 5.8" (from 5.5").

In a research note obtained by MacRumors, the analysts said only the 5.8-inch model will use OLED display technology, which can be sharper, brighter, and more energy efficient than LCD technology. Apple's primary OLED suppliers are said to be Samsung and LG, joined by Foxconn-owned Sharp by 2018.

The research note corroborates KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who in March said Apple will launch a 5.8-inch iPhone with a curved OLED display and glass casing next year. Japanese website Nikkei said the larger-screened iPhone will be a premium model, positioned alongside 4.7-inch and 5-inch iPhones with LCD displays.

It has been widely rumored Apple will achieve a bezel-free design by removing the iconic Home button on the next iPhone. Barclays, however, does not believe the Home button will move to an in-screen solution. It does expect the screen will "extend vertically as well as horizontally," but exactly how remains to be seen.

Article Link: Apple Said to Release Curved, Bezel-Free 5-Inch and 5.8-Inch iPhones Next Year

 

[Avieshek]

Eurika!
4.7 + (0.3) = 5.0"
5.5 + (0.3) = 5.8"

Maybe, it was planned from the start.

The older (or the iPhone 7) might be made available in 4.7" model 'only'. No 5.5" iPhone 7 when the iPhone 8 in 2017 comes out and hence the three sizes. Not all the three sizes would be the next year's latest model.

 

[decimortis]

I imagine the 5.8 without bezels might actually feel smaller than the current 7+ I've got.
If that's the case, I'm in.

 

[Menopause]

Another year of fragmentation, waiting for developers to update their apps for the new resolution. FML.

2016: iPad Pro 12.9"
2017: iPhone 8

 

[iZac]

Another slap in the face to us 4" iPhone users

 

[LillieDesigns]

Happy my iPhone 6 is still alive and running well, but will be stoked to get a new phone next year. Glad I skipped the current generation.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Ugh. Sounds like once again the people that don't like phablet sized phones will get shortchanged on technology.

 

[slimothy]

Oh yes.

 

[nwcs]

That's all fine and good but I'm still waiting for another modern 4" iPhone. I just don't prefer the phablets or two-handed phones.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

I'd personally prefer a 4.7" display in a smaller form over a larger display in the same form. Move to 4.5" in roughly the same form as SE (with 1334×750) and let that replace both the 4" and 4.7" models going forward. Then make the larger one a more pocketable and manageable 5.5" plus model. This allows two models to replace three and sets an inch between them, differentiating them nicely.

 

[Dydegu]

Let's do it. An upgrade from my 6 Plus to this is going to be sick.

 

[seatton]

I am dying to own a bezel free apple watch. Please take my money in advance.

 

[Schwyz]

Ugh. Sounds like once again the people that don't like phablet sized phones will get shortchanged on technology.

Nay, without the bezels, it will be about the size as the current iPhones.

4.7 + (0.3) = 5.0"
5.5 + (0.3) = 5.8"

Win-win!

 

[Appleaker]

If they're the same size then that should be fine, although there are people sthat want a smaller phone with the same screen.

They can remove the home button, but I don't like the idea of a software button. The whole bottom bezel can be the 'button'.

 

[McTaste]

This will make screen protectors even narrower. I love buying them and having them cover 95% of the screen already, why not make it 80%?

 

[kemal]

More joy for the case manufacturers.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

I'd prefer a 5.5 display in a smaller form over a larger display in the same form.

Even reducing the 7+ bezels in half approaches the 7 form factor.

 

[bladerunner2000]

If it doesn't have a headphone jack, it'll be another joke of a phone.

 

[SMIDG3T]

The iPhone 7 was the "same" and still sold like hot cakes, imagine what a brand new design iPhone 8 will sell like with a curved display and no bezels...

 

[2457248]

i don't see them dropping the 7 form factor already, i expect a 7s, 7s plus alongside these new models at a premium price (although it sounds like a lot of phones!)

 

[SSD-GUY]

I need dat iPhone SE 2. Please let it be a bezel free 4.3" design. Would be amazing.

 

[deany]

Fantastic news as expected bazel free 5", curved edge for "ticker tape", brilliant.

Bazel uses between 40 and 50% of precious screen real estate at present.

Total waste of space.

 

[SMIDG3T]

If it doesn't have a headphone jack, it'll be another joke of a phone.

Looooool. Off you pop to Android then.

"Joke of a phone." You make me laff.

 

[slu]

Ugh. Sounds like once again the people that don't like phablet sized phones will get shortchanged on technology.

And I'm growing tired of it. I just switched back to iPhone from Android mainly because it is becoming impossible to find a reasonable size top end Android phone. And now Apple is doing the same damn thing.

 

[2457282]

If they can grow the screen size without the form factor, I am totally in. However, I don't want anything bigger in my hand. the 4.7 form factor is about as big as I can handle.