Forget iPhone 20, Apple's 2028 curved display will be even better

With Apple's 20th-anniversary iPhone expected to boast a new, curvier display, it's now reported that the 2028 iPhone's display will be even more advanced.

Reports have heavily claimed the 2027 iPhone will feature a new micro-curved OLED display to celebrate its 20th year. Now, a new ET News report claims Apple's suppliers are already planning for what comes next.

The iPhone 21, set to be announced a year later, will iterate on its predecessor's "four-edge bending" display. It's said that Apple will use a new transparent electrode technology, with both Samsung Display and LG Display ready to use it.

New tech, fewer distortions

The iPhone 20 is expected to use a magnesium-silver alloy cathode layer as part of its OLED display. But this approach can cause screen distortion when bent.

Given the iPhone 20's curved display, it's believed distortions could be an issue. While Apple seems to have made its peace with this limitation, it plans to ensure its successor fares better.

For the 2028 model, it's believed that Apple will use a transparent electrode by switching to an Indium-Zinc Oxide (IZO) cathode layer. This will allow more light to pass through the cathode, reducing distortions.

It's reported that Samsung Display and LG Display will need to upgrade their facilities to produce Apple's new displays. The latter has already set the ball rolling, investing 1.106 trillion won in new OLED infrastructure.

Samsung Display is expected to follow suit, but it's as-yet unconfirmed. Questions remain as to whether demand for the new displays will increase across the industry as a whole.

The 20th-anniversary iPhone is expected to see the biggest design since the iPhone X. The 2017 iPhone X marked the phone's 10th anniversary and was the first to ditch the Home button.

As for this report in particular, ET News has a reasonable track record in terms of its supply chain sources. It's likely that the core of its report is accurate.

However, its record with timeframes is less impressive. Specifically, its prediction for 2028 may be off.