Categories: Archived Post

Apple patent filing hints at iPhones, iPads with wrap-around displays

Apple has applied for another patent (number 20190324503) — one of a dozen or so — for an “electronic device with a wrap-around display” that hints at a iPhone with a wrap-around screen. And — who knows? — perhaps iPads, as well.

In the patent filing, Apple says that in the last few years the functionality of portable electronic devices has increased “exponentially” and that improvements can be realized by investigating ways to maximize the utility of unused portions of these devices. The tech giant says that, unfortunately, the current form factor, leaves the sides and rear surfaces of an device unused or at best configured with buttons and switches with fixed location and functionality. 

Since many of these buttons and switches have fixed functionality they can’t always be incorporated into third party applications. Apple wants to change this.

Here’s the summary of the patent: “A consumer electronic product includes at least a transparent housing and a flexible display assembly enclosed within the transparent housing. In the described embodiment, the flexible display assembly is configured to present visual content at any portion of the transparent housing.”

Of course, Apple files for — and is granted — lots of patents by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Many are for inventions that never see the light of day. However, you never can tell which ones will materialize in a real product.

Dennis Sellers

Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.

Recent Posts

U.S. Labor Board: Apple illegally interrogated NYC retail staff

Apple illegally interrogated staff at its World Trade Center store in New York City, the…

2 mins ago

Apple purportedly building its own AI servers using the M2 Ultra chip

In a note to clients — as noted by MacRumors — analyst Jeff Pu says…

10 mins ago

Rumor: 2025’s iPhone 17 line-up will see a boost in RAM

2025's iPhone 17 line-up rumored to see a boost in RAM.

21 mins ago

Five new games arriving on Apple Arcade, including ‘Legends of the Multiverse’

Five new games are arriving on Apple Arcade, including "Legends of the Multiverse."

11 hours ago

The iPhone 15 Pro Max was the Best-selling Smartphone in quarter one

The iPhone 15 Pro Max was the best-selling smartphone in quarter one.

12 hours ago

Worldwide tablet sales have increased ‘modestly,’ and iPad sales are expected to shoot up this year

Worldwide tablet sales have increased "modestly," and iPad sales are expected to shoot up this…

12 hours ago