Chinese smartphone vendors 'steal a march' on Apple's iPhone 2027 Liquid Glass concept before release

Before Apple releases its product, several Chinese smartphone vendors are reportedly moving faster by adopting a futuristic display concept that has only been circulating in iPhone leaks.

Apple is said to be preparing a special edition iPhone to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2027, featuring a ‘Liquid Glass Display’ with curved edges on all four sides.

The technology aims to create a nearly invisible bezel effect, delivering a seamless, uninterrupted screen appearance.

This design is more than a standard curved display. Leaks suggest Apple is combining optical techniques like light refraction and specific structures to create a visual illusion where the screen edges appear to merge with the device body.

Apple is also reportedly using Samsung’s latest COE (Colour Filter on Encapsulation) OLED technology for a thinner, brighter display.

A Shenzhen-based Chinese vendor is said to be developing a flagship phone with a similar flat surface and subtle edge curves, aiming for a ‘floating’ bezel-less display effect.

While Chinese Android vendors are known for quickly adopting Apple’s design trends, this situation is unique as the ‘copied’ product has not yet been officially released and remains a rumour.

If Chinese vendors launch this concept first, they could potentially beat Apple to market with the next-generation display experience.

The biggest challenge may lie in production costs, as the extreme thin bezel technology is expected to be expensive, especially amid fluctuating DRAM component markets.

Conversely, Apple’s global supply chain network gives it an edge in maintaining competitive pricing despite adopting new technology.

Whether other vendors will follow suit or wait for Apple’s official release remains to be seen, as reported by KompasTekno citing WCCFTech.