Apple’s 20th Anniversary iPhone Could Finally Deliver the ‘Single Slab of Glass’ Dream

For over a decade, the holy grail of smartphone design has been an object that feels less like a computer and more like a seamless artifact. Now, reports indicate that Apple is mobilizing its supply chain to finally make that reality. The 20th Anniversary iPhone, slated for 2027, is poised to ditch the bezels entirely for a design that looks like “a phone made from a single slab of glass”.

While we are still years away from the launch, the money trail suggests this isn’t just a concept render anymore, it’s an active industrial project.

The Four-Sided Curve

According to recent reports, the 2027 flagship will feature a completely bezel-less display that curves around all four edges. This differs significantly from the “waterfall” displays of the past, which usually only curved on the sides. By wrapping the screen around the top and bottom as well, Apple aims to eliminate the visual frame entirely, creating a unified surface that hides the device’s mechanical nature.

LG’s $273 Million Gamble

The strongest indicator that this device is real comes from the manufacturing floor. LG Display is reportedly investing approximately $273 million to set up the infrastructure needed to build these displays. The company is establishing up to 10 production lines dedicated specifically to these complex panels.

This is a massive undertaking. Industry sources note that “producing 4-sided bending displays requires significant modifications to existing lines,” necessitating a large-scale investment to pull off the engineering feat.

A Split in the Supply Chain?

Interestingly, this aggressive push for the “all-screen” look has created a divergence between Apple’s primary display partners. While Samsung Display is locked in to supply panels for a foldable iPhone in 2026, the South Korean giant is taking a “more cautious approach” to the 2027 anniversary model.

Samsung’s hesitation regarding the technical or financial viability of the four-sided curve has created an opening for LG to capture a larger share of Apple’s display orders. If LG can successfully navigate the manufacturing hurdles of bending glass on four sides, they could become the primary face of the most significant iPhone redesign in history.

The Takeaway

Think of standard smartphone manufacturing like paving a flat road—it’s precise, but the process is well-understood. Trying to mass-produce this 2027 display is like trying to pave a racetrack that loops upside down; you can’t just use the old machinery, you have to rebuild the entire factory to handle the curves.