Bold claim: the 20th-anniversary iPhone could redefine what “all-screen” means. Now more likely than ever, Apple’s next flagship may ditch bezels altogether by using a four-sided bending OLED panel, with LG Display pushing to finalize production for a 2027 release. This update would mark a true milestone for Apple, celebrating two decades with a design that stands apart from every previous model.
Industry chatter from DealSite suggests Apple is collaborating with both LG Display and Samsung Display on the screen, but LG appears more aggressively positioned to secure manufacturing equipment orders. Samsung, meanwhile, seems to be taking a more cautious route in this race.
The envisioned display would wrap around all four edges, eliminating visible bezels and delivering a seamless front surface. The concept echoes earlier ideas like the Galaxy Note Edge from 2014, which added side-screen real estate for notifications when the main display wasn’t showing them. In Apple’s implementation, the goal is a completely edge-to-edge appearance with no traditional side bezel visible.
However, turning this into a production-ready panel is exceptionally challenging. It requires bending the panel’s circuitry and refining an ultra-thin film encapsulation (TFE) to shield the OLED from moisture and oxygen, all while maintaining durability and yield at scale.
A complicating factor is the need to accommodate an under-display camera to support Face ID. If the camera sits beneath the screen, the device could present a flawless, uninterrupted display—yet it must still deliver reliable facial recognition performance and robust protection against moisture and dust. This under-display approach underscores why the full-screen vision isn’t simply about a larger display; it’s about rethinking the entire front-face architecture.
Talk of a full-screen design isn’t new. Rumors dating back to 2023 suggested Apple asked suppliers to develop a front that eliminates bezels entirely. Those discussions pointed to a potential arrival with the iPhone 18 generation, but development hurdles delayed the timeline. The latest chatter positions the all-screen concept as part of the 20th-anniversary celebration, aligning roughly with a 2027 debut.
In parallel, speculation about under-display Face ID has persisted, with some sources predicting its introduction in higher-end models earlier than other lines. Adopting an under-display camera would also push Apple toward a different chassis, possibly an all-glass body to complement the new display profile.
There’s even debate about the exact release window. Some analysts expect the 20th-anniversary iPhone to launch in the first half of 2027, bringing the milestone closer to the actual anniversary date. There’s also talk that Apple might skip the iPhone 19 name to emphasize the number 20’s significance.
Questions for readers: Do you believe Apple can pull off a truly edge-to-edge iPhone with an under-display Face ID by 2027, or will practical manufacturing constraints keep some bezels around the display? Is a glass, all-screen chassis the right aesthetic for this milestone, or would a more conventional frame better balance durability and style? Share your take in the comments.
