Apple’s visionary plans to eliminate bezels from future iPhones have encountered major technical challenges. This has forced the tech giant to push the launch timeline beyond 2026, according to industry sources familiar with the matter.
The upcoming setback emerges from ongoing technical discussions with display manufacturers Samsung Display and LG Display, who are struggling to perfect the necessary thin film encapsulation (TFE) technology required to protect OLED screens from environmental damage, The Elec reports.
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However, implementing this vision requires overcoming several engineering hurdles, including the development of specialised optical clear adhesive (OCA) processes and resolving antenna interference issues.
A key challenge lies in reconfiguring the iPhone’s OLED bezel circuits, which must be folded beneath the display to achieve the zero-bezel design. This modification necessitates careful consideration of antenna placement and potential signal interference, according to supply chain sources. The integration of an under-display camera system adds another layer of complexity to the manufacturing process, as engineers work to maintain image quality while eliminating visible screen elements.
Industry analysts now speculate that the technology might debut in the iPhone 18 or iPhone 19 series, though no official timeline has been confirmed. The delay comes as smartphone manufacturers continue their push toward slimmer bezels. Currently, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models already feature reduced border dimensions compared to previous generations.
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