Anniversary iPhone gets Samsung Micro-Curved OLED Apfelpatient

According to a new leak from China, Apple is having Samsung manufacture a special OLED display for the 20th anniversary iPhone. The panel is said to be slightly curved on all four sides, thinner and brighter than previous OLED displays – and to require no polarization filter at all.

The iPhone 20 is set to usher in a true design revolution in 2027 – Apple's most radical iPhone redesign in years. A completely bezel-less design with a display that wraps around all four sides of the casing is the stated goal. Following several earlier reports, details are now emerging about how Apple intends to achieve this technical feat: with a special display from Samsung, constructed differently from anything currently available on the market.

The new leak comes from the reliable Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station and confirms several earlier reports from Korea. The display for the 20th anniversary iPhone is said to have three key features: It is slightly curved on all four sides (hence "micro-curved"), extremely thin, and significantly brighter than current iPhone displays. This is made possible by a new display technology that Samsung is currently developing specifically for Apple.

"Micro-curves" instead of aggressive waterfall edges

Apple is apparently planning a completely different approach to display curvature. Samsung already offers highly curved OLED displays – the so-called waterfall displays with aggressively sloping edges, as seen in some Samsung smartphones. However, Apple will not be adopting this look.

Instead, Apple requires a display with "uniformly deep, gentle curves" on all four sides. The curvature should be so subtle that it's barely noticeable – but enough to give the device a softer feel and make swipe gestures from the edge of the display appear more natural. Another advantage: The gentle curvature prevents the image distortion at the edges that is typical of strongly curved displays.

The new Display Technology: COE without a polarizer

The real technological breakthrough, however, lies in another innovation. Apple wants a display without a polarizing filter – a significant departure from the current standard. Normally, OLED displays have a thin polarizing film sandwiched between the display and the cover glass. This filter serves a clear purpose: it reduces reflections on the display surface.

The problem: The polarizer also absorbs light emitted by the display itself – typically around 50 percent of the brightness. And it makes the entire display package thicker. Apple avoids both of these issues with a technology called COE (Color Filter on Encapsulation). Here, the color filter is applied directly to the encapsulation of the OLED panel, instead of as a separate layer on top.

The result sounds convincing: The display becomes thinner, brighter, and consumes less power. At the same time, a challenge arises that Apple still needs to address – without a polarizer, reflections are more difficult to control. The iPhone 17 already received a new anti-reflective coating, which Apple apparently intends to further improve for the anniversary model.

A crater diffuser for even brightness

Digital Chat Station already described another technical detail back in October. The anniversary iPhone is said to have a new type of light-diffusing layer with "crater-shaped" structures. This ensures that the brightness is distributed evenly across the entire display surface – something that would be difficult to achieve without technical tricks, especially at the curved edges.

For users, this means that even if the display is strongly curved, every part of the image appears equally bright. No dark corners, no bright centers – regardless of the viewing angle. This is technically complex, but the effort is worthwhile for a premium device.

Why Apple orders from Samsung

It's interesting that Apple ordered a special display for its anniversary iPhone from Samsung. The two companies are fierce rivals in the smartphone market – but also long-standing partners in the display business. Samsung Display is one of the few manufacturers worldwide capable of producing complex OLED technologies in high volumes.

For Apple, this dependency is strategically problematic, but practically unavoidable. LG Display – the other major OLED manufacturer – has fallen behind in some display innovations in recent years. BOE from China is a growing alternative, but not yet at Samsung's level when it comes to demanding premium displays.

What this means for the anniversary iPhone

The iPhone 20 is expected to be the most ambitious redesign since the iPhone X in 2017. Apple aims to achieve a completely bezel-less look – without Dynamic Island, without a visible camera cutout, and with a display covering the entire front. This is extremely technically demanding, and Apple has reportedly been working on the necessary components for years.

Whether it will be ready by 2027 is not entirely certain. Display analyst Ross Young has already indicated that Apple might have to postpone some individual features. But the overall goal remains clear: For the iPhone's 20th anniversary, Apple wants to introduce a device that looks as new as the first iPhone from 2007.

For a complete overview of all iPhone 20 leaks, you can find our latest summary of the design revolution. Many more details are likely to emerge before the release in a year and a half – Apple is apparently planning one of the most elaborate launch events in its history for this model. (Image: Shutterstock / hurricanehank)