iPhone 20: Leaker describes four-sided curved OLED display

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According to a Chinese leaker, Apple is fundamentally revising the display of the upcoming iPhone: For the 20th iPhone anniversary in 2027, the so-called iPhone 20 is said to receive a four-sided curved OLED panel that appears almost borderless. This is reported by the Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station on the social network Weibo.

According to the information compiled by MacRumors, it is a “Micro-Curve” design where all four edges of the display have a flat curvature. Unlike so-called waterfall displays, which drop sharply at the sides, the curvature on the iPhone 20 is said to be subtle, merely conveying the impression of a frameless device. Digital Chat Station describes the panel as “four-sided subtly micro-curved” and without a polarizing layer.

Samsung to manufacture the panel using COE technology

Samsung is said to be manufacturing the OLED panel exclusively for Apple. The so-called COE technology (Color Filter on Encapsulation) is apparently used, where the color filters are applied directly to the encapsulation layer. The crucial difference to current iPhone displays: the polarizing layer is completely omitted. In conventional OLEDs, the polarizer blocks more than half of the emitted light to reduce reflections. Without this layer, the display can shine significantly brighter at the same energy consumption and also becomes thinner. Additionally, a light diffusion layer for uniform illumination and an improved anti-reflection coating are to be used.

Technically, however, the combination of micro-curve and the absence of a polarizing layer carries risks. The curvature at the edges increases sensitivity to accidental touches – a problem known from other smartphones with curved displays. The lack of a polarizing filter can also lead to issues with touch signals, for example, due to electromagnetic interference or environmental influences such as moisture. Specialized touch controllers would be necessary to ensure stable detection. The susceptibility to breakage at the edges is also likely to be higher than with flat panels.

Jony Ive's vision of a piece of glass

Apple's former design chief, Jony Ive, once had the vision of an iPhone that would feel like a single piece of glass in the hand. An almost borderless display without visible bezels would come very close to this ideal. However, it is questionable whether Apple will also be able to move the front camera and Face ID under the display by 2027. Analyst Ross Young expects under-display Face ID as early as 2026 in the first iPhones; however, he considers a completely notch-free, borderless device without any cutout to be realistic only from around 2030 – the iPhone 20 might therefore still have a cutout in the display.

Digital Chat Station is a leaker active on Weibo with over three million followers and contacts in the Chinese and Korean supply chain industry. His predictions about display technologies and foldable devices are often considered accurate in the industry, although he does not achieve the hit rate of analysts like Mark Gurman or Ross Young.

First the foldable in 2026

Before the iPhone 20 is due, Apple's focus is on 2026. In the fall, the first foldable iPhone is expected to be released with the iPhone Ultra – also with Samsung OLED and at prices starting around 2000 US dollars. Should Apple actually be planning an anniversary model with special features for the iPhone 20, it would not be unprecedented: For the tenth anniversary in 2017, Apple made a significant design leap with the iPhone X and, for the first time, opted for an almost borderless OLED display. Tim Cook at the time spoke of the beginning of a new decade.

(mki)