Chinese Vendor Surpasses Apple, Introducing Future iPhone Technology First

A concept iPhone that has not yet been released to the market is reportedly already being “copied” by smartphone vendors from China. Several reports indicate that Apple is preparing a special edition iPhone in 2027 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its phone line. The device is rumoured to feature a futuristic screen design called “Liquid Glass Display”, a technology said to provide a screen that curves on all four sides, creating an effect with nearly invisible bezels. With this approach, the screen display will appear full and seamless, without a clear boundary between the screen and the body. This design is not merely a standard curved screen. Based on leaks, Apple combines optical techniques such as light refraction with a special structure to create a visual illusion, making the screen edges appear to merge with the device frame. Apple is also rumoured to use the latest OLED technology from Samsung, namely COE (Color Filter on Encapsulation), to produce thinner and brighter panels. This Shenzhen-based vendor is said to be preparing a flagship phone with a screen design similar to the Liquid Glass Display. Its screen is reportedly still flat but has subtle curves on all four sides to create a visual effect of a bezel-less screen that appears “floating”. This phenomenon is not new in the smartphone industry. Chinese Android vendors often move quickly in adopting design trends from Apple. However, this time it is considered different because the design being copied is still limited to rumours, not a final product that has been released. If the Chinese vendor launches a device with that concept first, they have the potential to precede Apple in bringing the next-generation screen experience to the market. The main challenge of this technology is estimated to lie in production costs. Screens with super-thin bezel effects require complex technology that is not cheap, especially amid fluctuating prices of components like DRAM. On the other hand, Apple has an advantage from its global supply chain, which allows the company to maintain device prices even when incorporating new technology. Besides the hardware side, the software approach is also starting to be copied. Several Android vendors are reported to have introduced interface effects in the style of “Liquid Glass”, complete with transparent animations and distinctive iPhone visuals. Apple itself previously introduced the Liquid Glass interface design, which is widely applied across various operating systems, from iOS and iPadOS to macOS.