Current iPhones Have Bezels Around Display
4 Facebook x.com Reddit BlueSky Rumor Score 🤔 Maybe
The iPhone 18 could be the first bezel-less model, but the development of an iPhone with a glass body faces some hurdles.
The iPhone, like many other smartphones, offers users a large display, but with a small bezel around the outside. While the bezel has been minimized over the years, it may be a thing of the past with the iPhone 18.
Samsung Display and LG Display are working on bezel-less OLED screens, according to sources at TheElec. Both companies are key players in Apple's display supply chain, and the work is apparently being done at Apple's request.
Multiple sources said on Tuesday that talks are underway regarding the display technology. But while the display was scheduled to be introduced in 2026, that may not necessarily happen as expected.
“If Apple wanted to launch a bezel-less OLED iPhone in 2026, it would have to have already completed technical discussions with domestic panel makers, but they are still in talks,” one source explained. The ongoing talks mean it is unclear whether a 2026 launch using the technology will happen.
New Screen Design and Technology
Apple is believed to want to use a zero-bezel display that would retain the current flat display and angular design of the iPhone. However, the screen would have to slope down the sides of the iPhone, similar to the Apple Watch display.
To achieve this, Samsung Display and LG Display must develop thin film encapsulation (TFE) processes to protect the OLED panel from moisture and oxygen. They also need optical clear adhesive (OCA) technology to bond the panel with a clear, double-sided adhesive film that works with the curved elements of the display while leaving room for other components.
Developing OCA technology appears to be a stumbling block due to the existence of distortion issues when viewed from the side. Apple apparently doesn’t want the magnifying glass effect that some Samsung smartphones with curved edges have had when using a similar display.
There is also a durability issue, as the smooth edges are weak points susceptible to external influences.
Other design changes could also impact the development of the new display, including the possibility of an under-panel camera system, which a Samsung Display official confirmed in August. There have been previous rumors of an under-panel Face ID system for the iPhone 18.
Samsung has previously been rumored to use blue phosphorescent materials in OLED panels to reduce power consumption. This change could result in a significant increase in iPhone battery life, without taking into account other performance improvements.
Rumor Score
🤔
Possible
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