Apple is preparing a significant redesign for its upcoming 20th-anniversary iPhone, partnering with Samsung to develop a custom display panel. Expected to launch in 2027, the future device will reportedly feature a completely bezel-less screen that gently curves around all four edges.
This new technology aims to create a highly refined all-glass aesthetic without relying on the aggressive waterfall edges seen on other smartphone models.
Samsung develops a quad-curved panel with softer display edges
The new design relies on an equal-depth quad-curved panel that utilizes micro-curves to keep the screen edges shallow. Apple chose this subtle rounding to ensure the device feels softer in the hand and makes swipe gestures feel natural.
This approach also prevents the visual distortion that often occurs around the perimeters of heavily curved screens. The supply chain leak from Digital Chat Station notes the ultimate goal for the 2027 model is an uninterrupted glass layout, potentially integrating under-display sensors to eliminate current camera cutouts.
New panel technology removes the polarizer to boost screen brightness
Supply chain information indicates Apple wants a display that removes the traditional polarizer layer found on most current screens. The company plans to adopt a Samsung-made technology called Color Filter on Encapsulation, which applies the color filter directly onto the encapsulation layer.
This method reduces the overall thickness of the display stack while allowing more light to pass through, improving brightness and lowering power consumption. Because removing the polarizing film can increase screen reflections, Apple is developing a new anti-reflective coating to counter the effect.
The company is also incorporating a crater-shaped light diffusion layer within the display to distribute brightness evenly across the entire surface.
At this stage, the information comes from early reports and supply chain sources, so final specifications could still change. Still, the idea of a micro-curved, quad-edge OLED panel gives a clearer sense of where Apple might be heading with its next big milestone device.
