After a collection of reports suggested that Apple is working on an all-screen “iPhone 20” smartphone for 2027, showcasing a design predominantly composed of glass bending around the device’s four edges, renowned insider UniverseIce commented on X, asserting that Apple will not produce an iPhone with a curved display to commemorate the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. Instead, Apple intends to give the iPhone’s edges a gentler curvature effect akin to the Apple Watch, which appears to have curved sides. The actual OLED panel beneath the glass will remain flat; merely the glass cover atop it will exhibit a curving effect toward the sides.
UniverseIce has been revealing secrets about Samsung and Apple on Chinese social media and X for several years. His latest insight on X follows a report from another prominent Apple insider. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman outlined a few days ago Apple’s alleged iPhone design plans for the next three years. The iPhone 17 series will introduce the ultra-slim “Air” model; the iPhone 18 series will showcase Apple’s inaugural foldable device; and a redesign for the 20th anniversary iPhone is anticipated in 2027.
“Then arrives 2027, when Apple marks its smartphone’s 20th anniversary with a curved-glass ‘iPhone 20.’ This design will finally depart from the squared-off slab we’ve been accustomed to since 2020, transitioning to a design with curved glass edges all around,” Gurman stated, through MacRumors. “It should harmonize well with the upcoming Liquid Glass-based interface for iOS and other operating systems slated for release next month.”
Gurman made comparable assertions in mid-May, indicating that the iPhone 20 will feature a “mostly glass, curved” design. The Information reported in early May that Apple plans to release an iPhone model in 2027 with an edge-to-edge display. The phone’s Face ID technology and selfie camera would be positioned beneath the screen.
What the iPhone 20’s curved screen might appear like
“The iPhone cannot be crafted with a curved screen. Do not trust such rumors,” UniverseIce cautioned on X, detailing what type of curvature the 20th anniversary iPhone might showcase. “Apple has explicitly notified its suppliers that it will not embrace curved screens. At most, it might present a ‘visual curve’ effect—similar to the edges of an Apple Watch display, where the panel remains flat with characteristic softly squared-off borders, while the glass subtly curves downwards at the edges. The curvature will be slight, providing an edge-to-edge visual experience.”
The leaker also elaborated on the manufacturing challenges Apple might face during what could be an early prototyping stage. The iPhone 20 may be two years out, but Apple is likely already developing the technological advancements needed to support a significant redesign.
“The current issue lies in thinning the TFE (thin-film encapsulation) and optimizing the side OCA (optical clear adhesive) application,” UniverseIce explained. “If not executed correctly, it could produce a ‘magnifying glass’ effect when viewed from the side, resulting in distorted visuals. This is the general direction Apple is pursuing—absolutely no quad-curved screens. A unibody quad-curved glass design may be feasible, but only the glass would flex; the display itself would remain completely flat, exhibiting no curvature.”
Apple has never manufactured iPhones with curved edges, despite various Android device manufacturers utilizing curved screen designs in preceding years. Samsung serves as an exemplary case, but even Samsung has shifted away from curved displays in favor of the flat screens found on devices launched in more recent years. Apple did offer curved-edge glass effects on the 2014 iPhone 6 designs, maintaining them until the 2022 iPhone SE 3.
One more thing
The sources mentioned above have consistently provided accurate insights into Apple’s plans for the iPhone previously, but these initial iPhone 20 reports will require additional time for verification. While they may seem conflicting, they could be conveying the same iPhone 20 design narrative, drawn from different sources. Both Gurman and UniverseIce could be right. Apple might implement an all-screen iPhone 20 design in 2027, yet only the display’s glass cover may curve slightly at the edges before seamlessly integrating with the device’s chassis.
Interestingly, a report from the Korean site ETNews from mid-May indicated that Apple might utilize “four-edge bending” technology for the 2027 iPhone, somewhat corroborating Gurman’s May statement. Such a screen would wrap around the iPhone’s four sides, providing users with a display experience that would eliminate borders or the bezels present around current iPhone displays. A leak from Korea in mid-June suggested that Apple is contemplating an all-glass design for the iPhone 20. The glass would encompass the display, edges, and rear, leaving no gaps. Apple has filed patents in preceding years demonstrating iPhone
