With the iPhone 18 Pro barely out, rumors about the upcoming anniversary iPhone 20 with an all-display design are about to ramp up. However, it appears that the quad-curved display of next year’s flagship iPhone is only a step towards a much more advanced design, which appears to depend on Samsung.
The bezel-less iPhone design of Apple’s dreams may depend on Samsung
Apple is reportedly dreaming of a completely different type of OLED display that wraps around a phone. However, this technology isn’t developed by anyone in Cupertino, and it’s instead the work of Samsung.
Chinese leaker Instant Digital writes on Weibo (source in Chinese) that Apple is waiting for Samsung to finalize a display that wraps almost vertically around a phone’s corners, making its sides part of the screen. Unlike the current curved displays bearing the “waterfall screen” moniker, this technology would allow a flat panel, which bends at almost 90 degrees on all four sides of the phone.
A completely redesigned iPhone once again based on Samsung technology
Concept design for a future iPhone. | Image by Instant Digital on Weibo
As much as Apple wants to launch a complete overhaul of the smartphone designs we’re used to, the company is still dependent on the advancements done by Samsung. The Korean company reportedly has several major challenges to overcome before this type of display turns into a real product.
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One of the issues is related to optical distortion and color shifts around the corner, which are crucial for the image quality requirements of modern smartphones. Samsung is also trying to figure out how to maintain the protective encapsulation of the OLED panel through the extreme bends.
A more significant issue could be the connectivity of an all-display device. By removing the typical frame made of plastic or metal, the display would cover all the locations currently used for antennas.
Ever since rumors about the bezelless iPhone 20 started popping up, Apple fans have been intrigued by the idea of a major redesign. While some users on Reddit expressed their worries about the selfie camera quality and the potential changes to the Dynamic Island interface, others were more skeptical about the potential changes.
Could Samsung utilize this technology first?
Samsung was the company that pioneered curved displays with devices like the Galaxy S6 Edge and the Galaxy S7 Edge. However, later phones gradually lost the curved display until the Galaxy S24 Ultra switched to a flat display.
Apple, on the other hand, last used a curved design for the iPhone 11 series. Starting with the iPhone 12, the company’s devices have all used sharp edges and completely flat displays. That’s why the rumored switch to a curved display for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary could be a throwback to its 10th anniversary.
As for this new technology, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Samsung decided to use it first on some of its own devices. While it’s unlikely for a whole future Galaxy S series to introduce such a departure from the current design, there could be a special model. Either way, the anniversary iPhone 20 could be an intermediate step towards the more ambitious design Apple wants for its phones.
This could be a durability nightmare
Curved displays never looked good to me, and I think the iPhone 17 and Galaxy S25 Ultra are among the best-looking smartphones ever made. In my personal experience, using curved displays has always included accidental touches with my palm, but that was the least of my issues.
Having the screen wrapped around the edge means zero protection when I inevitably drop my phone. And I don’t even want to start talking about how pointless this technology would be if you just wrap the edge in a protective case. That’s why I would never buy such a phone, even if it comes out in the foreseeable future.
Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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