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Rumor: Apple working on iPhones with touchless gesture controls, curved screens

Apple is working on touchless gesture control and curved screens for 2020 (or later) iPhones, according to Bloomberg, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”

The control feature would purportedly let iPhone users perform some tasks by moving their finger close to the screen without actually tapping it. Apple is also developing iPhone displays that curve inward gradually from top to bottom, according to Bloomberg.

Chances this rumor is true, according to the Sellers Research Group (that’s me): 50%. Maybe I’m missing something, but what advantage would a touchless gesture controlled iPhone have over one with a touch screen?

Regarding the curved screen, that’s much more likely. Apple has been granted multiple patents for curved displays. For example, patent number 9.411,451 describes electronic devices may sport flexible displays that are bent to form displays on multiple surfaces of the devices. Bent flexible displays may be bent to form front side displays and edge displays. 

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis 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.