Ryan Haines / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Despite speculation suggesting Apple’s bezel-less iPhone would debut by 2025 or 2026, technical challenges are currently impeding its development.
- Technical talks between Apple and show panel manufacturers have yet to reach a conclusion, suggesting that the rollout of the bezel-less iPhone may now be pushed back.
The iPhone represents one of the best offerings from Apple in terms of smartphones. While exploring innovative technologies, one cannot help but notice the vast opportunities available for Apple to push the boundaries with cutting-edge hardware. While Apple typically plays it safe by sticking with familiar expertise rather than being the first to pioneer a new approach, this doesn’t mean the company is unwilling to take bold steps. Apple reportedly aims to introduce an iPhone with a bezel-less display in the future, but customers will need to wait patiently for this feature to become a reality.
Apple has long been rumored to be working on a new smartphone design, with some speculating that the company is not yet satisfied with the development of its “bezel-less” concept.
According to industry sources, Apple would likely have completed technical negotiations with leading display manufacturers such as Samsung Display and LG Display by 2026 if it were to launch a bezelless iPhone, given these companies’ established track record of producing OLED panels for the tech giant’s devices. Regardless, the corporation continues discussing its plans, casting doubt on the 2026 launch timeline’s viability.
To revolutionize the iPhone design, Apple should seamlessly integrate a borderless yet flat display that harmonizes with the angular aesthetic of current iPhones, mirroring the seamless integration of screens on Apple Watch models where the display fluidly curves around the device’s edge. Samsung and LG envision developing a cutting-edge, ultra-thin film encapsulation technology to safeguard their OLED displays from moisture and oxygen threats, but this innovative approach is hindered by persistent issues with side-view distortions.
Businesses must create an optically transparent adhesive, ensuring seamless bonding with a clear double-sided tape, while guaranteeing the display remains intact despite external factors and potential stress on its edges. To integrate this new design, they would need to meticulously rework the existing iPhone OLED bezel circuitry, folding it down to accommodate the display while also ensuring sufficient space for the antenna and resolving potential interference points.
While current trends indicate that future iPhone designs will continue to prioritize minimalistic borders, eliminating bevels altogether seems unlikely for now. By then, we should have gained more insights on this topic when it is launched.
