A smartphone design that has not yet reached the market is already shaping the next round of flagship competition. Oppo is being linked to a display concept that resembles Apple’s rumored future iPhone screen, even though Apple has not officially launched the device that inspired it.
The concept in question is called Liquid Glass Display, and it is widely associated with a special iPhone model expected for the 20th anniversary of the iPhone line in 2027. Apple is said to be preparing a screen that curves on all four sides, aiming to make the bezels almost disappear and create a display that feels fully merged with the body.
A futuristic look built to erase boundaries
This is not described as a regular curved screen. The reported design uses optical techniques such as refraction together with a special structure so the edges of the panel appear to blend into the frame.
If that plan materializes, the visual effect would look more seamless than a conventional display. The panel is intended to seem as if it is floating while still becoming part of the phone’s overall body.
Apple is also rumored to pair the design with Samsung’s newer OLED technology, COE or Color Filter on Encapsulation. That panel approach is said to help make the display thinner and brighter.
Oppo enters the conversation early
Before Apple has even introduced the concept commercially, a Chinese vendor is said to be moving in a similar direction. Oppo, based in Shenzhen, is reported to be preparing a flagship phone with a display approach that closely echoes the Liquid Glass Display idea.
The screen is said to remain flat, but with gentle curves on all four sides to create the illusion of a bezel-less panel. What stands out is that the target being followed is not an existing iPhone already on sale, but a rumored Apple concept that still exists in leak territory.
That timing has drawn attention because Android vendors in China have often moved quickly when a design direction appears likely to appeal to premium buyers. In this case, however, the reference point itself is still only a future-facing rumor.
Why the concept is attracting attention
The appeal of Liquid Glass Display lies in its attempt to remove the feeling of a hard screen edge. With four-sided curvature and optical support, the panel is meant to merge visually with the frame and produce the impression of a single sheet of glass.
Apple has already introduced the Liquid Glass design language across its software ecosystem, including iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. That visual direction adds context to the hardware rumor and helps explain why similar styling is now appearing in the Android world as well.
Some Android vendors are also said to have adopted interface effects that resemble Liquid Glass, using transparent animations and visuals that echo the look associated with the iPhone side of the market. The design trend is therefore spreading not only in hardware concepts but also in user-interface styling.
Production costs may complicate the race
Despite the visual appeal, this kind of display is expected to be expensive to make. Achieving an ultra-thin bezel effect requires complex panel structures and demanding manufacturing processes.
Component pricing could add another layer of pressure. DRAM price swings are mentioned as one of the factors that may complicate the rollout of new display technology into commercial products.
Apple is seen as having an advantage in global supply chain management, which could give it more room to absorb the cost of advanced hardware while keeping the device price under control. Chinese vendors, on the other hand, are known for moving aggressively to capture market momentum.
That makes the situation especially interesting if Oppo can deliver a similar visual experience with a more efficient approach. The competition at the premium end of the smartphone market is now being shaped not only by products that are already on shelves, but also by concepts and leaks that have not yet become official.
Source: tekno.kompas.com
