Apple's First Bezel-Free iPhone Unlikely to Be Ready for 2026 Launch

[johnsawyercjs]

My guess is that Apple isn’t planning on making something as extreme as the Xiaomi waterfall design (at least not at first), with a significant portion of the visible area at the outer edges of the display curving halfway down the sides of the phone, but maybe a design that’s closer to a combination of the current iPhones and Apple Watches, retaining the iPhone’s flat metal band around the perimeter so that the dimensions and locations of the iPhone’s buttons can be retained, while rounding downward the currently-sharp perimeter of the front glass edge so that it meets the metal perimeter band, maybe smoothly running into it, with no indentation/bevel/step/lip (take your pick) between them, as is done on the non-Ultra Apple Watch, while also eliminating what’s left of the black bezel that currently sits between the edges of the display and the metal perimeter band. But if so, I don’t see how current iPhone case designs would be able to prevent the phone from falling out of the front of the case, since there would be no lip for the case to overlap. But I’m sure Apple and case makers will come up with something.

That’s my guess anyway.

Edit: I tried to get DALL-E 3 to generate an image matching my description, but all it could draw was a smartphone with a black bezel, even though I told it not to, several times. When I asked it why, it said that since essentially all smartphones have a black bezel, that's all it could draw. But it still drew a bezel when I told it to just create a generic rectangular electronic device with a glass front. So much for that. Here's the closest it could get, but still with a black bezel across the bottom edge:

 

[bushman4]

Joni Ives worked on this concept for years, Apple has 12 patents maybe more
And with at least 10 years of work on this it looks as though Apple is no where close.
My question is why. The iPhone is over 50% of their business and profit shouldn't the iPhone take priority in developing and implementing new technology?

 

[Mr_Ed]

Joni Ives worked on this concept for years, Apple has 12 patents maybe more
And with at least 10 years of work on this it looks as though Apple is no where close.
My question is why. The iPhone is over 50% of their business and profit shouldn't the iPhone take priority in developing and implementing new technology?

The flip side is, it sells well enough as it is. The necessary investment may not translate to increased sales, so why take the risk?

 

[svish]

Would have thought that it would be possible by 2027 for the 20th anniversary of iPhone. Apple could be launching a foldable iPhone instead in 2027. Hopefully the zero bezel iPhone arrives soon.

 

[mazz0]

Apple is said to envision a unique design that maintains the iPhone's signature flat display and angular sides while extending the screen seamlessly over the edges, similar to the current Apple Watch design

What? That makes no sense. The Apple Watch has neither angular sides, nor a screen that extends over the edges. I have absolutely no idea what you’re trying to describe here.

 

[LV426]

Whatever you do, don’t make a phone with slippery round edges that is hard to pick up from a table unless you’ve got long fingernails.

 

[Pupi]

What? That makes no sense. The Apple Watch has neither angular sides, nor a screen that extends over the edges. I have absolutely no idea what you’re trying to describe here.

Yeah I think they are essentially describing curved glass edges which were already a thing in the iPhone from 6 to 11.

 

[Luke MacWalker]

I do wonder how a phone case works with 0 bezels. Someone smarter than me knows…

I suppose a MagSafe case could use magnets to stay in place… The funny part is that any case would add bezels to a bezel-free phone. 😉

 

[usmaak]

So, does that mean we will keep tapping the edge of screen all the time?

Exactly. One of the Samsung phones I had before I got full into Apple has this “feature” and it was awful. I had to stick it into a bulky case with wide sides just to be able to type on it with any sort of accuracy. I couldn’t get rid of it fast enough and one of the best things about the iPhone, at least for me, was some padding along the edges.

 

[Apple_Robert]

For me, the current bezel size on the iPhone 16 Pro Max is barely noticeable. I don't see how completely removing it would give me a completely new experience.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

What? That makes no sense. The Apple Watch has neither angular sides, nor a screen that extends over the edges. I have absolutely no idea what you’re trying to describe here.

I think the reference to "angular sides" refers to the iPhone, not the Apple Watch. The reference to "extending the screen seamlessly over the edges, similar to the current Apple Watch design" refers to the rounded-down edges of the glass on the Apple Watch, while mistakenly describing the screen under the Watch's glass as also extending downward to the metal around the display, though that apparently is what Apple intends in this iPhone design.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Yeah I think they are essentially describing curved glass edges which were already a thing in the iPhone from 6 to 11.

Sure, but under the curved edges of that glass was a wide (compared to today's) black bezel, instead of being a continuation of the edges of the display all the way down to the metal band around the perimeter of the iPhone.

 

[Yr Blues]

I don't care about bezel. they've slimmed it down quite a bit. i'm just happy we don't have the awful iPhone 8 bezels. They were ugly as hell.

I don't have much issue with the notch/dynamic island but I do want an all screen iPhone. no visible cameras or sensors.

You can't see something that will never exist.

I'm holding onto my current SE 3 until this happens. I hate notches and islands or whatever marketing gimmick they come up with. That's why I'm sticking with my 2019 MacBook Pro that flawlessly runs Sequoia.

 

[Cloudyskies22]

All true, but I still don't want it. I value a case and the protection it offers over zero-bezel.

Zero bezel does nothing to using a case. The last 1/8” has no touch sensitivity and it therefore, has no UI elements that enter that space. It is a border of immersion. A case can freely go overtop of it and it does nothing negative against the user.

Period.

 

[Cloudyskies22]

You can’t be immersed by a phone, like you can’t be immersed by a watch. Any practical gain from decreasing the bezel has had diminishing returns. Now it’s merely for (subjective) aesthetics most likely at the expense of usability—ie. form over function.

There is vast vast immersion from a phone having reduced bezel.

You matter-of-factly have no clue what you’re talking about.

I just recently held and used a phone with a huge bezel (for work purposes). Anytime I pulled out my iPhone 16 Pro which I do not use a case on, I was stricken by how unbelievably more immersive the screen is due to the minimal bezels.

The epitome of smartphones is the day the screen subtly blends into 2.5D glass borders on all sides. It will reach unbelievable immersion and feel like a completely new experience.

 

[baslotto]

What the hell is the point when there will always be the need for a phone case anyway? This and the foldable iPhone are 2 things that I really find ridiculous. I'm happy with my non foldable phone with a nice protective bezel. The island on the other hand.....

 

[mazz0]

Yeah I think they are essentially describing curved glass edges which were already a thing in the iPhone from 6 to 11.

I thought that too, but they specifically say angular sides :/

 

[mazz0]

I think the reference to "angular sides" refers to the iPhone, not the Apple Watch. The reference to "extending the screen seamlessly over the edges, similar to the current Apple Watch design" refers to the rounded-down edges of the glass on the Apple Watch, while mistakenly describing the screen under the Watch's glass as also extending downward to the metal around the display, though that apparently is what Apple intends in this iPhone design.

View attachment 2465707

Yeah, there are examples in Apple products of angular sides and rounded ones, but those things are contradictory - one thing can’t be both, so what are they describing?

 

[scorpio vega]

I can get behind this. The “Dynamic Island” is so intrusive that they would be better off bringing back the notch and shrink it by 1/3rd.

I never understood the hate for the notch or island lol I almost never notice it.

 

[wdfly]

Bezel free is useless imo, cases will cover up the extra screen area, rendering it unusable.

 

[Alameda]

Yes, Apple. Build an iPhone which cannot be put into a protective case. That’s what we’ve all been asking for.

 

[Cloudyskies22]

What the hell is the point when there will always be the need for a phone case anyway? This and the foldable iPhone are 2 things that I really find ridiculous. I'm happy with my non foldable phone with a nice protective bezel. The island on the other hand.....

Firstly, I don’t use a phone case and I haven’t since the iPhone X in November 2017.

Secondly, most phone cases do not cover the entire bezel, so you do in fact still see bezel rather than just the edge of the phone case, and screen.

Anyone with relatively high IQ would know that you obviously reduce bezel to zero. The border 1/8” screen is strictly for immersion and has no touch sensitivity and no UI elements entering it. Go to your Home Screen. Now, imagine if your wallpaper simply expanded and filled the black bezel and the UI elements stayed where they are. That is the point. The point is maximizing immersion.

It benefits all users who do not use a case and the vast majority who do use a case as the vast majority of cases do not cover all of the bezel.

 

[Cloudyskies22]

Bezel free is useless imo, cases will cover up the extra screen area, rendering it unusable.

Read my latest comment and you’ll understand

 

[Cloudyskies22]

Yes, Apple. Build an iPhone which cannot be put into a protective case. That’s what we’ve all been asking for.

The phone can very easily be put in a protective case. The last 1/8” screen is not touch sensitive and has no UI elements enter it. It is simply for immersion. If you use an otter box it is still fine and the phone is just as functional.

I do not use a case and I’ll have slightly more visible screen, but we will both have the same usable screen. Yours will be slightly wasted due to your case, but that’s your decision.

 

[baslotto]

I guess my low IQ is not making me imagine this wonderful concept you are describing. Would you be so kind to put me in the right direction by suggesting a phone that already features this amazing technology? I still can’t see the benefits from this “immersive experience”. And yes, I use a phone case and I’m happy to do so until the phones will be made impossible to scratch or break if they fall.