Apple Could Be Working on a Device With a Wrap-Around Screen—and We Have the Receipts

Could it be an iPhone? Apple has filed a patent for a "device" with a wrap-around screen. Their patent is described for a smartphone with a front and rear display

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The new iPhone is going to be a great one. That is, if you think wrap-around screens that display on both sides are great. Apple has filed a patent for a smart phone that would have a display screen on both the front and back of the phone.

Patent number 9,367,095 was filed by Apple Inc. on Tuesday and states that it is for an "electronic device with wrap around display." More specifically,

A consumer electronic product that 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.
Figure Of New Iphone Wrapped Around Housing

Figures of the new phone, which was invented by Scott A. Myers, appear to show a clear display inside a clear case that has narrow, curved edges on the sides (think: fourth generation iPod Nanos):

Figure Of New Iphone Clear Case And Curved Edges
Figure Of New Iphone Bottom Ports

According to the patent, one of the driving ideas behind the design of the phone is to utilize more of the surface space of the phone for interactive display. Noting that current smartphones have unused space, specially on the "sides and rear surfaces" of the phone, the new design aims to maximize surface space and "allow functionality to extend to more than once surface of the device."

The drawings in the patent appear to be on an iPhone, but Apple's repeated usage of the phrase "device" to describe the design and technology certainly leaves room to imagine that this design will be applied to other Apple products as well.

Apple Inc. did not immediately reply to Complex's request for comment.

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