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20th Anniversary iPhone's Curved Display to Improve a Year Later

Apple is already planning a second version of the "four-edge bending" display that is rumored to debut on next year's 20th-anniversary iPhone, claims a new report out of Korea.


For the 20th-anniversary iPhone, Apple is said to be introducing a display that curves down around all four edges of the device for a borderless visual experience. It could be one of the biggest 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.

Today, ETNews reports that Apple is planning a two-stage rollout for the new OLED display technology that the commemorative iPhone will use, with a more advanced version said to be coming a year later.

For the 2027 variant, Apple will reportedly rely on OLED technology that uses a magnesium-silver (MgAg) alloy in the cathode layer. This implementation can cause image distortion and brightness loss in the curved areas, but Apple is apparently willing to live with the compromise for the 20th-anniversary iPhone while more advanced technology scales.

Apple then plans to address the issue in 2028 by transitioning to next-generation transparent electrodes. Apple will reportedly switch to indium zinc oxide (IZO) cathode materials, and because IZO is more transparent, it should reduce distortion, uneven brightness, and heat issues around the curved edges while enabling even narrower bezels.

ETNews reports that Samsung Display and LG Display have already been put on alert to prepare for the two-stage rollout. LG recently announced a β‚©1.106 trillion investment (roughly $790 million) in OLED infrastructure, which industry observers believe is connected to development and mass production of the new technology.

Meanwhile, Samsung is reportedly evaluating whether its existing OLED lines can accommodate the required hardware, but a dedicated production line is not out of the question, and may well be necessary.

Bloomberg in May 2025 reported on Apple's plans to launch a "mostly glass, curved iPhone without any cutouts in the display" for its 20th-anniversary model. The Information last year also cited multiple sources claiming that at least one new iPhone model launching in 2027 will have a truly edge-to-edge display.
This article, "20th Anniversary iPhone's Curved Display to Improve a Year Later" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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You Might Want to Wait to Buy a New iPhone

While something new is always around the corner, now might be a particularly good time to hold off on buying a new iPhone if you are able to.


The reason to consider waiting is that Apple is reportedly working on a special 20th-anniversary iPhone for release in September 2027, and rumors suggest that the device will feature the biggest redesign since the iPhone X in 2017.

According to Bloomberg, the 20th-anniversary iPhone will have "glass edges that curve seamlessly into the display on all four sides."

The Information reported that one of Apple's early 20th-anniversary iPhone prototypes lacked bezels around the screen. The device had only a "narrow metal band running around the midpoint of the device's edge, where the buttons sit."

Apple has also aimed for the device to have no cutouts in the screen, according to The Information, but it is unclear if the company will be able to move both the front camera and the Face ID system under the screen by next year.

Overall, it sounds like Apple has ambitious goals with the 20th-anniversary iPhone, and that makes it a device that might be especially worth waiting for. Of course, this advice will not apply to you if you upgrade your iPhone every single year regardless, but the average customer holds on to their iPhone for two to four years.

In the meantime, Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first-ever foldable iPhone in September 2026, followed by an iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and a second-generation iPhone Air around March 2027.
This article, "You Might Want to Wait to Buy a New iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple Still Aiming for 20th Anniversary iPhone With All-Screen Display

Apple continues to test under-screen camera technology as it works toward a 20th-anniversary iPhone with an uninterrupted display, according to Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station.


Apple has long been rumored to be planning a major redesign for 2027. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported last May that the company is aiming for an all-glass device "without any cutouts in the display."

More recently, however, there have been signs that Apple's under-display ambitions could take longer to materialize. In January, display analyst Ross Young said the smaller Dynamic Island expected on this year's iPhone 18 Pro models is likely to persist through 2027. Just this week, leaker Fixed Focus Digital similarly claimed Apple is still facing challenges with under-display Face ID, and may instead focus on gradually shrinking the cutout.

Digital Chat Station's latest comments suggest a similar incremental approach. According to the leaker, Apple's roadmap moves from a smaller Dynamic Island with some Face ID components under the display – potentially for the iPhone 18 Pro – to a further reduced cutout with a hole-punch camera and fully under-display Face ID by 2027.

However, the timeline suggests the fully uninterrupted display could be reserved for a higher-end 20th-anniversary model. Indeed, Digital Chat Station says Apple is continuing to test an all-screen device with a quad-curved display that wraps around all four edges, creating a more borderless look.

For Apple to realize a true all-glass design, though, it will need to eliminate the remaining front-facing cutout entirely. Whether current under-display technologies can meet Apple's standards in time remains to be seen.
This article, "Apple Still Aiming for 20th Anniversary iPhone With All-Screen Display" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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