Future iPhones might copy Samsung's Galaxy Edge phones

Gimmick or not, people really seem to like Samsung's Galaxy "Edge" smartphones. And now Apple seems to be interested in them, too. 

Apple has just been granted a new patent for "electronic devices with sidewall displays." Patent US009411451, which was filed on April 21, 2015 and made public on Aug. 9, suggests future iPhones could come with curved screens that work similarly to Samsung's flagship phones.

According to the patent, "bent flexible displays may be bent to form front side displays and edge displays."

Furthermore: "Edge displays may alternatively function as virtual buttons, virtual switches or information displays that are supplemental to front side displays."

In other words, just like features found on Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge and the new Galaxy Note 7.

The patent also covers devices with a main display and a side display connected in the middle. Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge and Note 7 is a single display with two edges that curve downwards. 

On top of shortcuts and notifications, curved screens, as Samsung has proven, help to reduce a phone's width.

The Galaxy S7 Edge has the same 5.5-inch screen as the iPhone 6S Plus, but because of its dual curved sides, it's 0.21-inches narrower. It may not seem like much, but you can feel the difference in your hand and in your pocket. 

Fact: Phones with curved edges make phablets manageable.

Of course, it's possible Apple may never run with its patent ideas. Apple files tons of patents. Not all of them make their way into real products.