[News] What to Expect from Apple’s 20th iPhone: HBM, Seamless Screen, Pure Silicon Battery

According to etnews, Apple has reportedly kicked off development of its 2027 iPhone, attracting significant industry attention as it plans major technological upgrades to commemorate the device’s 20th anniversary. Below are some of the potential new technologies Apple may incorporate into the next-generation iPhone.

Apple to Unlock AI Power in iPhone with HBM

The report notes that on-device AI will require significant memory advancements, with the industry expecting Apple to adopt mobile HBM in iPhones by 2027. Sources indicate that Apple may have already discussed its plans with major memory suppliers such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. According to the report, both companies are developing mobile HBM using proprietary packaging technologies, with mass production expected after 2026. Samsung is pursuing VCS (Vertical Cu-post Stack), while SK hynix is working on VFO (Vertical Wire Fan Out), the report adds.

Apple is reported to be advancing memory specifications with each new iPhone generation. Sources confirm that part of the iPhone 17 lineup will feature 12GB of DRAM for the first time, with etnews reporting that Samsung is expected to supply approximately 70% of the total volume. Additionally, 9to5Mac notes that the iPhone 18 will adopt 6-channel LPDDR5X memory in 2026.

Full-Screen Display and Next-Gen DDI

Apple is expected to introduce a full-screen design in the 2027 iPhone, as etnews mentions. While current smartphones offer near edge-to-edge screens, a truly uninterrupted display has yet to be achieved. To enable this, the 2027 iPhone is rumored to incorporate under-display camera (UDC) technology and four-sided OLED edge bending. The OLED display driver IC (DDI) may also adopt a 16nm FinFET process to reduce power consumption, etnews highlights.

Pure Silicon Battery: A Game Changer for Mobile AI

As etnews underscores, the potential commercialization of a pure silicon battery has attracted growing attention, with Apple reportedly collaborating with multiple battery manufacturers. The report notes that replacing graphite with silicon allows for significantly more energy storage within the same volume, and improved battery performance is critical to enabling on-device AI.

Read more

• [News] Apple Reportedly Tipped to Launch Almost All-Glass, Curved iPhone in 2027 for 20th Anniversary
• [News] Apple to Upgrade iPhone 17 Pro to 12GB DRAM, with Samsung Rumored to Capture 70% Share

(Photo credit: Apple)