Apple’s Bezel-Free iPhone Likely Delayed Past 2026 Launch

According to recent reports, Apple plans to bring a full-bezel-free iPhone display to market, but the technical hurdle is likely so huge that we could never see such iPhones released until 2026 as planned. The company is making incremental progress on bezel size on its iPhone and is working towards a “zero-bezel” unit. But the necessary screen tech being developed by Apple alongside Samsung Display and LG Display has suffered from major delays, according to a report from Korean outlet The Elec.

Apple’s Bezel-Free iPhone Faces Setbacks, Likely Delayed Beyond 2026 Launch, Report Reveals

In contrast to existing displays with curved edges, such as older designs by Samsung or niche products like Xiaomi’s quad-curved “waterfall display,” Apple’s would purportedly lose some of the “magnifying glass effect” that occurs on curved edgings while keeping the iPhone’s well-known flat screen and angular design. Designed as such, the display would continue seamlessly over the edges of devices and would evoke comparisons with the Apple Watch’s “pebble-like” appearance.

As ambitious as this vision is, though, technical hurdles remain formidable. Apple’s component suppliers, Samsung Display and LG Display must adjust their technologies before the idea can become a reality. Thin Film Encapsulation (TFE), which acts as a barrier from potential damage to OLED screens in the environment, and Optical Clear Adhesive (OCA), which adheres clear adhesive around the world’s edges.

This has proven particularly tricky with OCA development, where existing solutions have caused side-view distortions and the edge-wrapped displays still suffer from situations where impact damage is yet to be addressed. And engineers need to know that crucial components, including the iPhone’s antenna, will fit inside the new shape.

Apple was initially planning to start mass production of the bezel-free displays for the iPhone 18, expected to arrive in 2026. However, industry insiders have indicated that progress with display manufacturers is more than a little behind schedule and that talks to finalize the technology are still ongoing. That means Apple’s first “zero-bezel” iPhone isn’t going to be released until much further in the future.

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