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The anniversary iPhone's curved display is expected to arrive – but without two technologies that would have made it thinner and more energy-efficient. A report from South Korea cites two reasons for this, one of which is related to storage costs.
For the 2027 anniversary model, the supply chain has been expecting an OLED panel curved on all four edges for months. This previously included a second component: In April, it was announced that Samsung was manufacturing a special panel for Apple without a polarization filter, thinner and brighter than previous OLED displays.
According to a report in the Korean trade publication ETNews on September 23, this very part will be omitted for the time being. The newspaper cites unnamed industry sources and provides neither documents nor a new timeline. All previous rumors about the device are compiled in the overview of the iPhone 20.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The four-sided curved display shape for the iPhone 20 is expected to remain.
- However, two panel technologies, COE and LTPO+, will not be used in the anniversary model.
- The report cites rising costs due to storage prices and technology that does not yet meet Apple's requirements as reasons.
- According to the report, there is no new date set for either technique.
The shape remains, but two building blocks are removed
According to ETNews, the visible change is unaffected. Apple is expected to continue using a display that curves around all four edges of the device, creating a virtually borderless appearance.
However, two technologies inside the panel are being moved. According to the report, Apple had prepared both of them together with Samsung Display and LG Display for the anniversary model.
What COE and LTPO+ would have achieved
COE stands for Color Filter on Encapsulation. A color filter on the panel's protective layer takes over the function of the previous polarizing film. The panel becomes thinner and lets more light through, saving energy while maintaining the same brightness.
LTPO+ is an advancement of the transistor technology on which the variable refresh rate of the Pro models is based. Some of the transistors are replaced by oxide transistors. This is intended to reduce the number of complex laser steps in manufacturing and further lower power consumption.
| Technology | What it changes | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| COE | Color filter instead of polarizing film | thinner panel, higher light output |
| LTPO+ | Oxide transistors instead of LTPO driver transistors | Fewer manufacturing steps, lower consumption |
Two reasons for the postponement
According to ETNews, industry sources cite two reasons. The first is cost: Rising memory prices are already driving up iPhone manufacturing costs, and additional expensive display technology would further increase the bill of materials. This aligns with reports from the supply chain that Apple is expected to pay significantly more for iPhone memory in 2027.
The second reason is the technology itself. Apple is said to expect more performance than today's COE and LTPO variants can deliver, and materials and manufacturing processes are reportedly not yet mature enough for this.
This is a setback for panel manufacturers. LG Display announced investments of 1.26 trillion won in June 2025, including 700 billion for panel lines in Paju, South Korea, and followed up with another 1.1 trillion won in April 2026.
How the report fits the existing picture
The report contradicts information from the spring, but aligns with an analysis from last week. In April, the leaker Digital Chat Station reported a panel without a polarization filter for the anniversary model. However, the market research company UBI Research predicted in mid-September that a display without a polarizer would not be introduced to the Pro models until 2029.
| Date | Source | Status of COE on the iPhone Pro |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Digital Chat Station (Weibo) | planned for the 2027 anniversary model |
| September 2026 | UBI Research | not expected until the second half of 2029 |
| September 23, 2026 | ETNews | Postponed in the anniversary edition, without a new date |
These two scenarios are not mutually exclusive: The April leak described a plan, while the current report states that it has been abandoned. The UBI Research analysis mentions a later date, which ETNews explicitly leaves open.
The anniversary model loses efficiency, not its appeal
For buyers, the crucial feature remains. What distinguishes the iPhone 20 from the front is its curved, almost bezel-less design – and that's what's coming. COE and LTPO+ would have primarily improved battery life and the device's thickness, both aspects that aren't visible in a store.
The omission is frustrating in another area. A thinner, more efficient panel would have freed up space and energy for a casing where, according to previous reports, heat dissipation through the glass could already be problematic. We expect COE to arrive in the iPhone with a later generation – UBI Research's analysis points to 2029.
Would an anniversary iPhone with a curved display be worth the upgrade for you, even without the more energy-efficient panel technology – or is battery life ultimately more important to you than the design? Let us know your prediction in the comments.
