Apple is reportedly testing a prototype quad-curved OLED screen for the iPhone 19 Pro as part of its push toward an all-screen iPhone. If the leaks prove accurate, it could mark Apple’s biggest redesign since the iPhone X.
The rumored 2027 flagship phone is said to come with under-display Face ID and be curved on all four sides. It could give buyers a compelling reason to skip the iPhone 18 Pro.
The iPhone’s final frontier is hiding the selfie camera
Apple has spent nearly two decades working toward a sort of holy grail of design — an iPhone that looks and feels like a single slab of glass. Now, according to a fresh wave of leaks, that could be within reach, thanks to a design that hides nearly every sensor beneath an edge-to-edge screen.
The rumored quad-curved OLED display for the iPhone 19 Pro would represent more than a mere cosmetic tweak. It would give Apple a way to reassert its role as the most cutting-edge smartphone manufacturer, even as rivals abandon their own futuristic, curved-screen designs.
The prototype iPhone display, said to be curved around all four sides, hides most Face ID components underneath. Still, hiding the selfie camera is proving to be a challenge.
Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station, who has a strong track record on Apple rumors, said Thursday that the 2027 iPhone Pro’s curved screen is already at the evaluation stage. But a small hole-punch camera remains on the front.
The claim aligns with an earlier report from tipster Ice Universe, who said Apple could market its curved OLED screen as a “Liquid Glass Display.”
Some Android manufacturers like Redmagic already produced such designs. However, hiding the camera sensor under the display resulted in poor image quality. That tradeoff could explain why Apple might leave the small hole-punch cutout in the iPhone 19 Pro’s screen.
Apple may be rethinking the curved screen formula
Apple’s approach appears very different from the aggressively curved “waterfall” displays once used on Samsung Galaxy phones. Those screens not only distorted images, but also proved fragile and made it hard to use a case with the phones.
Instead, Apple may be working to create the illusion of a bezel-less design without the problems associated with the technology. If Apple succeeds, the result would be a device that feels like pure glass.
Interestingly, Apple seems to be pushing toward curved displays at a time when Android manufacturers are moving in the opposite direction. For years, Android users have complained about the durability and usability of such screens. But Apple might pick up the baton right when the competition fades away.
Separately, Apple is also said to be developing a distinct 20th-anniversary iPhone, likely for release in 2028. This device would feature a completely uninterrupted display, with no cutouts of any kind. That would take things a step beyond what the iPhone 19 Pro reportedly will offer.
Apple might have to wait for Samsung to make it happen
If Apple manages to engineer an uninterrupted display for the anniversary model, Samsung’s production capacity could become the biggest roadblock.
The display maker might need entirely new production lines to build enough panels for the anniversary iPhone.
Apple is also reportedly pushing for a “pol-less” display design that removes the polarizer layer found in most modern OLED screens. This could make future iPhones brighter and thinner.
That lines up with a late-2025 report saying Apple plans to debut the technology on the 20th-anniversary iPhone.
Should you skip the iPhone 18 Pro?
Apple watchers may be quietly wondering if they should skip the iPhone 18 Pro. Expected this fall, reportedly will feature a much smaller Dynamic Island, with some Face ID components hidden under the display. However, it might miss out on the full quad curved redesign.
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
