Rumors about a possible 5.8-inch screen in an iPhone device have been brewing over several tech websites recently. Aside from that, rumors also claim that Apple is transitioning from LCD displays to the more powerful OLED screens. Rumors claim that the 5.8-inch Apple iPhone 7 with OLED displays will finally see the light of day sometime in the latter part of 2017 or early in 2018.
Tech analysts are somewhat skeptical about these rumors and are questioning the merits of it. However, leaks in the distant past reveal that Apple is indeed working on a flexible OLED display for its iPhone devices. Moreover, the Cupertino-based tech giant have also filed patents for these technologies.
According to Apple Insider, South Korean tech giant Samsung is tasked of supplying Apple with the initial batch of these OLED panels.
Major smartphone manufacturers, including Samsung, have transitioned to using the more powerful OLED display panels that the more traditional LCD ones. Even Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg highlighted the technical prowess of OLED displays which is also the preferred display panels for virtual reality headsets.
Rumors report that Apple is planning to release an iOS device that has folder edge side screens and the company will be able to achieve this feat by using a flexible OLED display. By using flexible OLED display, Apple will no longer worry about side bezels and instead replace it with new features or buttons.
Samsung has already showed how innovative a bezel-less device works with the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Experts believe that while Apple will not blatantly mimic the features of the S7 Edge, it might introduce a feature that works on the same design cues.
According to Mac Rumor, a leaked patent application from Apple outlines an edge display that extends on the main front display of the device. This could mean that Apple is working to introduce virtual buttons and virtual switches. Some experts believe that Apple might add a secondary display that supplements the main display screen.
The leaked patent reveals a touch-sensitive layer located underneath a flexible layer. Also noted on the leaked patent are the functions of these virtual side buttons which can be used for purposes like taking a photo or adjusting volume.