TL; DR
- According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Cupertino giant is working on a “mostly glass, curved iPhone — without any cutouts in the display.”
- Per a recent ETNews report, Apple plans to implement “four-edge bending” display technology on the special anniversary edition iPhone.
- The special edition iPhone is called “glasswing” internally, as it might look like a seamless piece of glass, as the former Chief Design Officer, Jony Ive, imagined it to be.
Remember iPhone X? The first iPhone with an edge-to-edge screen (and the thick yet iconic notch up top)? The release of the iPhone X in 2017 was a turning point for the smartphone industry. The handset encouraged other manufacturers to make phones with an all-screen display, and, to some extent, influenced the adoption of notches and, later, punch-hole camera cutouts in the Android ecosystem.
While subsequent iPhone releases have also added to the curve by featuring some of the most powerful and efficient chipsets, there hasn’t been a major hardware revolution in years. It does help Apple establish a distinct brand identity for its devices, but it also opens opportunities for competitors to innovate in areas where the company maintains a consistent approach.
Apple’s 20th Anniversary iPhone Could Feature an Uninterrupted Screen With No Cutouts
Well, that could change in 2027. Why, you ask? According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Cupertino giant is working on a “mostly glass, curved iPhone — without any cutouts in the display.” The iPhone will mark the 10th anniversary of the revolutionary iPhone X and the 20th anniversary of what started it all: the first iPhone.
In a recent X (formerly known as Twitter) post, Gurman mentions how the 20th anniversary iPhone will feature an all-screen design, implying that there will be no Dynamic Island or punch-hole notch on the front; the display will extend from one corner of the screen to the other.
A Truly Curved iPhone With Extended Screen On All Four Edges
Besides an uninterrupted screen, the 20th anniversary iPhone is also said to be curved. Notice how Gurman doesn’t mention anything about a curved display, but a curved iPhone, which could be similar to the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, which came with curved or rounded edges. This trend continued until the iPhone 12 came out in 2020, switching to a flatter design.
However, what the folks at ETNews claim is even interesting. Per their recent report, Apple plans to implement “four-edge bending” display technology on the special anniversary edition iPhone. The display on the concerned iPhone will not only curve around the left and right edges (as seen in current curved-edge smartphones), but it will also wrap around the edges at the top and the bottom.
The design will result in a truly bezel-less screen that provides an unparalleled visual experience.
Regarding the “sensors built into the display” part, we think Gurman refers to the various sensors currently residing on an iPhone’s screen (including all the sensors for the TruDepth camera system) and how Apple plans to embed them beneath the 20th anniversary iPhone’s screen.
The Special Edition iPhone Could Bring Jony Ive’s Long-Held Vision to Life
In addition to these details, the journalist highlights how the special edition iPhone is called “glasswing” internally, as it might look like a seamless piece of glass, as the former Chief Design Officer, Jony Ive, imagined it to be. The iPhone is “being made in China,” which could mean that the country is working on its prototypes in its sophisticated factories or test labs.
Apple is also expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone in 2027. In its typical fashion, the company will use premium materials and design language for the iPhone. Gurman also mentions how Apple’s first foldable could feature a “nearly invisible” crease on the internal screen.
20th Anniversary iPhone: Our Opinion and Concerns
From a design perspective, the “Glasswing” iPhone, potentially with a wraparound screen as some rumors suggest, will look incredibly futuristic and aesthetically stunning. It sounds like Jony Ive’s long-held vision about how an iPhone should look like a seamless slab of glass, with the glass that covers the front screen extending from the edges and the frame to the back.
Eliminating the notch and not using any other cutouts will also contribute to the seamless design idea. However, we’re concerned about the potential engineering and durability concerns that the iPhone could pose. The layers of the OLED screen, for instance, can affect the light transmitted through them into the FaceID sensors. Further, the all-glass construction will be more fragile (and, not to mention, expensive to repair) than current smartphones.
Also Read: Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Become first Crease–Free Display folding phone
Moreover, the 20th anniversary iPhone, with a seamless all-glass design, sounds ambitious and exciting. It represents a potential evolution in smartphone design, but its success depends heavily on how well Apple overcomes engineering and durability concerns without compromising other aspects.
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