Former Apple design chief Jony Ive consistently regarded “a single slab of glass” without any bezels as the pinnacle of iPhone design. Recent reports from the supply chain indicate that Apple anticipated the iPhone 18 would realize this vision, though it now seems improbable.
The report suggests the aim is to have the entire front of the device dedicated to the display, creating a seamless transition of the screen into the device’s edges.
The ‘single slab of glass’ aspiration
Even though Ive has departed, Apple is believed to be persistently pursuing his concept of a device resembling a single slab of glass. Viewed from the front, it would exhibit no bezels, just pure display.
The first significant advancement towards that goal was the introduction of the iPhone X in 2017; however, since then, progress has been gradual. The widths of the bezels have been diminishing, yet they remain quite noticeable.
Completely removing them would necessitate a curved display that wraps around the device’s sides. The Apple Watch effectively simulates this appearance by concealing the bezels beneath curved glass. However, Apple aims for the iPhone’s display to remain active all the way into those curved edges.
Samsung accomplished this effect with the Galaxy Edge series, though this approach left prominent forehead and chin sections.
Apple’s aim is to achieve this design on all four sides.
iPhone 18 was the target, but seems improbable
TheElec shares that Apple was aspiring to release a zero-bezel phone in 2026, specifically at least one model of the iPhone 18, though its display partners have faced challenges in meeting Apple’s requirements.
At Apple’s request, it has been confirmed that Samsung Display and LG Display are working on an iPhone organic light-emitting diode (OLED) that is bezel-less, but […] the timeline for a zero-bezel OLED iPhone is currently in doubt for 2026 due to insufficient technological advancements to completely eliminate bezels.
An industry insider noted, “If Apple intends to launch a zero-bezel OLED iPhone by 2026, technical negotiations with local panel suppliers should have been finalized already; we are still in discussion.”
While the basic objective is attainable today, there are real-world issues Apple is keen to address before the design’s release:
- Ensuring the interface between the curved display and the device body is waterproof
- Mitigating the “magnifying glass effect” commonly experienced with curved display edges
- Guaranteeing effective functionality of the antenna
- Counteracting the susceptibility of the screen edges to damage from impacts
It is thought that Apple’s target for 2026 would still include a punch-hole camera, as the technology needed to place the front camera beneath the display may not align with Apple’s quality criteria by that time, though this remains a long-term aspiration.
Photos: Main Răzvan Băltărețu (CC2.0); Watch Apple; Galaxy Edge 7 9to5Google
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