A sketchy supply chain report from Korea claims the bezel-free display for the iPhone 20 is an early iteration of the technology and is “likely to cause screen distortion.”
The report was updated from an earlier version, which said Apple was willing to accept a “compromise” on a 2027 model, with an improved version planned for 2028…
iPhone 20, or 20th Anniversary iPhone
Early reporting suggested we’d see a 20th anniversary iPhone next year in the form of a special edition along the lines of the iPhone Air and the upcoming iPhone Ultra folding phone. However, subsequent reports indicate that the features rumored for the models may appear in the iPhone 20 Pro and Pro Max.
The difference between the two is simply a matter of branding – essentially, how much fuss will Apple make about the new design.
Either way, this design is expected to be a big step towards the company’s long-term goal of a phone that looks like “a slab of glass.” The display is said to wrap around the edges on all four sides to at least give the impression of a bezel-free screen. In fact, there may be some Apple Watch-style optical illusion where the curved edges aren’t actually part of the display.
‘Possibility of screen distortion’
Supply Chain Publishing etnews Says both Samsung and LG are preparing to make panels for the iPhone 20.
The report suggests there will be two different generations of the technology: one for the 2027 model and another for the 2028 update, but that’s a somewhat confusing story.
The original version of the report stated that the 2027 version would include “the possibility of screen distortion”, which would be resolved in the 2028 model. This suggested that Apple was willing to accept the “compromise” of a less-than-ideal display in order to launch next year. However, an updated version has removed this latter comment. Now it reads:
Apple is planning to further develop the ‘4-sided bending’ display, which it plans to implement on the 20th anniversary iPhone next year in 2028 (…)
Currently, the display cathode layer is made of magnesium and gallum alloy (Mg Ag). In this situation, the screen of the 4-way bending part is likely to be distorted and the brightness (brightness per unit area) is reduced. To solve the problem, we plan to implement transparent electrodes in the 2028 product by replacing the display cathode layer with indium and zinc oxide (IZO).
This still appears to be pointing to a potential issue with the 2027 displays that will be addressed in next year’s models, but the language is more cautious.
9to5Mac’s take
The report looks so confusing that I wouldn’t put too much stock in it at this stage. We will obviously have a better idea of ​​the situation when time comes.
FTC: We use auto affiliate links that generate income. More.
