Apple is reportedly contemplating a radical redesign for the twentieth anniversary iPhone that would characteristic a very bezel-less show that curves round all 4 edges of the gadget, claims a brand new report out of Korea.
Etnews writes that Apple is aiming to make use of “four-edge bending” show know-how for the 2027 iPhone that might curve not simply alongside the left and proper sides as seen in some present smartphones, but additionally wrap across the prime and backside edges. This is able to create a very borderless visible expertise with content material flowing seamlessly throughout all sides of the gadget.
This follows a report by Bloomberg over the weekend that mentioned Apple plans to launch a “principally glass, curved iPhone with none cutouts within the show.” The Info final week additionally cited a number of sources claiming that no less than one new iPhone mannequin launching in 2027 could have a very edge-to-edge show. Bloomberg beforehand reported that the gadget could be a Professional mannequin in Apple’s 2027 lineup.
Primarily based on the most recent report, the formidable design would get rid of conventional display borders totally, doubtlessly marking one of the vital vital design shifts within the iPhone’s historical past because the tenth anniversary iPhone X, which noticed Apple drop the Dwelling button, introduce a notched show, and undertake an intuitive swipe gesture-based navigation interface.
The brand new show know-how is alleged to be a part of Apple’s broader push towards next-generation {hardware} for the commemorative iPhone. The corporate can also be reportedly trying to develop an OLED show driver IC (DDI) primarily based on 16nm FinFET course of know-how, as a substitute of the standard 28nm planar course of at the moment used.
The show driver know-how would apparently ship vital energy effectivity enhancements, which is prone to be more and more essential as smartphones get thinner and enhanced on-device AI options demand extra energy. The report additionally claims that Apple’s twentieth anniversary iPhone might embrace pure silicon batteries as a substitute of graphite-based ones for elevated power density.
Apple is anticipated to start discussions with OLED suppliers Samsung Show and LG Show about implementing the superior applied sciences for the anniversary mannequin, in response to the report.
Technical Challenges
Attaining a four-sided curved all-display design would current Apple with some main technical challenges, comparable to putting the front-facing sensors, cameras, and audio system underneath the show.
As a stepping stone in direction of this all-screen design in 2027, The Info on Tuesday reported that the iPhone 18 Professional and iPhone 18 Professional Max might be geared up with under-screen Face ID, with solely a small pinhole remaining for the entrance digicam on these gadgets. Counterpoint Analysis vice chairman Ross Younger has since corroborated the report.
As for the front-facing digicam, a number of Android telephones already characteristic under-display selfie cameras, and Apple has reportedly been working by itself answer for a while. In keeping with an April 2024 report, LG Innotek – certainly one of Apple’s Korean suppliers – is growing under-display cameras that depart no seen gap when inactive. These programs use a “freeform optic” a number of lens array designed to cut back picture distortion and enhance brightness, compensating for the sunshine loss that usually happens when a digicam sits behind a show.
Nonetheless, one other concern adopting a four-sided curved all-screen design could be structural integrity, since bending the display on all sides would introduce new stress factors that may very well be extra weak to wreck from drops. The described design might additionally require huge adjustments to consumer interplay. With no bezels to relaxation fingers on, Apple would seemingly have to develop new palm-rejection algorithms and doubtlessly revise iOS gesture navigation for edge-sensitive enter.
Assuming the stories are correct, Apple has some main {hardware} and software program hurdles to beat over the subsequent two years. If the corporate can pull it off although, such a design seems like a becoming solution to rejoice 20 years of Apple’s most iconic product.
