A supposed leak from a prolific Weibo tipster suggests that a prototype iPhone 19 Pro – that’s not an upcoming release, remember, but one likely to come in Fall 2027 – is currently in testing with a display that curves around all four edges of the device. As ever, take that with a sensible pinch of salt, but it’s certainly an interesting prospect. But not necessarily one I’m excited about.
iPhones are already difficult to hold without obscuring part of the screen, and a wrap-around display would surely only exacerbate the issue without adding any meaningful space on screen. I personally think a so-called “quad-curved” display would be awkward to hold and slip out of my hands. And what happens to the physical buttons? It seems unlikely Apple would want to abandon the relatively-recent Action Button and Camera Control so soon.
It feels like a tech demo rather than a real-world convenience – and it’s something several Android phones have already tried without setting the world alight. But I haven’t done millions of dollars’ worth of R&D, so what do I know?
Meanwhile, the same leak also mentions under-display Face ID, which would be a significant step toward Apple’s long-held dream of an iPhone that’s nothing but a seamless slab of glass. It’s not quite there, with the prototype rocking a punch-hole cutout for the front camera – but it’s another step closer. How Dynamic Island would be affected by all this is anyone’s guess, but at least it feels like worthwhile progress.
There are also some sketchy reports that the 19 Pro could be branded as a Liquid Glass iPhone, taking the controversial translucent aesthetic of iOS 26 from software into hardware. Whether Apple can turn that around remains to be seen, although with a new face at the design helm you never know. Either way, we’re still a long way out, and Apple has clearly not finished figuring this out yet.