Apple is reportedly pushing the envelope in smartphone design, aiming to develop a bezel-less iPhone. This significant shift in design could redefine the way we interact with our devices, but it’s not without its challenges and potential cost implications.
The Bezel-less Challenge
Apple has tasked its display manufacturers, to create an OLED that eliminates all iPhone front bezels. This is a considerable leap from the current design, which still features some bezels around the screen.
However, the journey towards a truly bezel-less screen is fraught with technical hurdles. It involves the development of thinner thin film bags (TFE) and under panel camera (UPC) technology that can blend seamlessly into the rest of the display. This would enhance user immersion by creating a screen that is entirely uninterrupted by bezels or camera notches.
Samsung, has been using what they call “bezel-less” displays. However, these displays use a curved edge design with a magnifying glass effect to simulate a bezel-less screen. Apple’s vision for a truly bezel-less iPhone is different and more challenging. It involves bending all the circuits currently in the bezel area under the display, which requires freeing up internal space and solving interference problems.
The Price of Innovation
While the prospect of a bezel-less iPhone is exciting, it’s important to consider the potential cost implications. The development and production of this new technology will undoubtedly be expensive, and it’s likely that these costs will be passed on to consumers.
Recent reports from Bloomberg suggest that the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models could see a price increase. This is based on Apple’s expectations to ship around the same number of iPhone 15s as last year’s iPhone 14, combined with the increased price for the Pro models, which should result in a bump in overall iPhone revenue.
Apple CEO Tim Cook suggested in a quarterly earnings call earlier this year that consumers are willing to stretch their budgets to get the best iPhone they can afford. This suggests that Apple is confident in its ability to sell higher-priced iPhones, despite the potential price increase.
A New Era for iPhone
The development of a bezel-less iPhone and the potential price increase for the Pro models mark a new era for iPhone. If Apple can successfully develop and implement this new technology, it could revolutionize the smartphone industry and set a new standard for smartphone design.
However, these are still just reports and predictions. The actual development and implementation of a bezel-less iPhone, as well as the potential price increase, are yet to be confirmed. As with all things in the tech world, we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds.
