Overview
- Leakers and supply‑chain reports on May 21, 2026 say Apple has moved a 2027 Pro prototype into evaluation or mass‑production testing with a display that curves around all four edges.
- The prototype is reported to combine a hole‑punch cutout for the selfie camera with Face ID hidden beneath the panel because hiding both optical sensors under OLED layers remains technically difficult.
- Samsung Display is named by multiple reports as the likely panel supplier and has been developing the Color Filter on Encapsulation (COE) process needed for so‑called Liquid Glass or quad‑curved panels.
- Industry sources warn the manufacturing process requires new tooling and delicate electrode and sputtering steps that can reduce yields, cause edge distortion, and affect image quality at the curved borders.
- If these reports prove accurate, Apple faces product‑positioning choices—whether to reserve an uninterrupted quad‑curved screen for a premium 20th‑anniversary model—and consumers could see higher prices or limited supply as firms work to fix camera and yield issues.