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Apple has been working on a bezel-free iPhone for many years, and the iPhone 18, arriving in 2026, will be the first to rock this look. The bezel-free iPhone may provide a seamless wraparound display flow across the edges of a device. This Apple bezel-free display will fulfill the long-held vision of the former Apple design chief, Jony Ive.
Recently reported by TheElec, suppliers like Samsung and LG are struggling to meet the technical demand required for making bezel-free designs. Thus, Apple may also face problems like maintaining display durability, making it free from distortions, and ensuring waterproofing at the curved edges.
Apple has long dreamed of bezel-free designs that eliminate borders around the screen. A version of this was partially realized in early 2017 with the iPhone X. Yet, no full Apple bezel-free phone has materialized so far.
According to some iPhone 18 leaks, Apple is collaborating with suppliers to develop advanced OLED and protective screen technologies. Thin Film Encapsulation is a critical innovation in progress, protecting OLED screens from moisture and oxygen. However, it still needs to be perfected before mass production of iPhone 18.
Another obstacle is the development of Optical Clear Adhesive (OCA), which bonds the display to the device frame without distorting the image, especially at the curved edges.
Apart from the technical issues, there is the issue of the ruggedness of the curved edges of the Apple Bezel-Free Phone. The design may be slick but more prone to damage when dropped or struck. In addition, Apple needs to understand how it can maintain the antenna performance with the interference from the curved edges of the display.
Apple had hoped to commercialize the bezel-free technology with the iPhone 18 in 2026. However, the date has not been confirmed since the technical issues have not yet been solved. If the technology is not fully perfected by 2026, its release will likely be pushed to a later version, the iPhone 19, or even later.
As Apple works around these problems, rumors are also circulating about a possible launch of the iPhone 17 Air by the end of next year. It could feature the slimmest design yet. However, rumors claim it probably won't feature a bezel-free display.
