The Future of iPhone Design: A Radical Redesign for the 20th Anniversary Model?
As we approach the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, rumors are swirling about a potential game-changing redesign for the iconic device. According to a report from ETNews, Apple is considering a bezel-less display that curves around all four edges of the device, creating a truly borderless visual experience. This ambitious design would eliminate traditional screen borders entirely, marking one of the most significant design shifts in the iPhone’s history.
The report suggests that Apple is aiming to use “four-edge bending” display technology, which would wrap around the top and bottom edges of the device, in addition to the left and right sides. This would allow for a seamless visual experience, with content flowing effortlessly across all sides of the device. The display technology is said to be part of Apple’s broader push toward next-generation hardware for the commemorative iPhone.
The report also claims that Apple is developing an OLED display driver IC (DDI) based on 16nm FinFET process technology, which would deliver significant power efficiency improvements. This is likely to be increasingly important as smartphones get thinner and enhanced on-device AI features demand more power. Additionally, the report suggests that the 20th anniversary iPhone could include pure silicon batteries instead of graphite-based ones for increased energy density.
Achieving a four-sided curved all-display design would present Apple with some major technical challenges, such as placing the front-facing sensors, cameras, and speakers under the display. However, as a stepping stone towards this all-screen design, The Information reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with under-screen Face ID, with only a small pinhole remaining for the front camera on those devices.
The front-facing camera is another area where Apple has been working on its own solution. According to an April 2024 report, LG Innotek is developing under-display cameras that leave no visible hole when inactive. These systems use a “freeform optic” multiple lens array designed to reduce image distortion and improve brightness, compensating for the light loss that typically occurs when a camera sits behind a display.
However, another concern adopting a four-sided curved all-screen design would be structural integrity, since bending the screen on all sides would introduce new stress points that could be more vulnerable to damage from drops. The described design could also require big changes to user interaction, with no bezels to rest fingers on, Apple would likely need to develop new palm-rejection algorithms and potentially revise iOS gesture navigation for edge-sensitive input.
Assuming the reports are accurate, Apple has some major hardware and software hurdles to overcome over the next two years. If the company can pull it off though, such a design sounds like a fitting way to celebrate two decades of Apple’s most iconic product.
Actionable Insights:
- Apple is reportedly considering a bezel-less display that curves around all four edges of the device, creating a truly borderless visual experience.
- The display technology is said to be part of Apple’s broader push toward next-generation hardware for the commemorative iPhone.
- Apple is developing an OLED display driver IC (DDI) based on 16nm FinFET process technology, which would deliver significant power efficiency improvements.
- The 20th anniversary iPhone could include pure silicon batteries instead of graphite-based ones for increased energy density.
- Apple has been working on under-screen Face ID and under-display cameras to overcome technical challenges.
Summary:
The rumors surrounding the 20th anniversary iPhone’s design are exciting and ambitious. A bezel-less display that curves around all four edges of the device would be a significant departure from the traditional iPhone design and would likely require major hardware and software advancements. While there are technical challenges to overcome, the potential benefits of such a design are significant, and it would be a fitting way to celebrate two decades of Apple’s most iconic product.