Tecno is once again the trade show sleeper hit. After introducing a tri-fold, ultra-thin concept phone and rollables, the Chinese company is at IFA Berlin 2026 with an all-new bezel-free Android, aptly-called the Next-Gen Bezelless Concept. It doesn’t change what you can do with your phone, but it definitely makes the screen feel more immersive. I went hands-on with the device at the Showstoppers event, and there’s a lot to like.
Is it even practical?
For a few years now, phone makers have been working to shrink the bezels on their smartphones. Apple went from thick black borders on the iPhone 12 to pleasingly thin, symmetrical bezels on its iPhone 17 Pro.
It’s even rumored to entirely get rid of the borders around the display on its 20th-anniversary iPhone in 2027. The rumors felt impractical at first, but after trying the Tecno Next-Gen Bezelless Concept Phone, I think it looks more futuristic (and usable) than I thought.
The new Tecno concept phone runs on Android and has a 0mm bezel. In my brief hands-on time, I used it to jump between apps, run the camera, and browse the web. I was worried that it would register fake touches from my palm, but it didn’t. The display frame is enough to hold the phone comfortably without triggering any unwanted interactions. It feels immersive and futuristic without doing anything wildly impractical.
Also: I went hands-on with Lenovo’s latest rollable laptop – is it finally practical?
Tecno says it implemented “advanced internal stacking, structural re-engineering, and novel screen packaging,” resulting in a very immersive experience. However, it is not coming to the market any time soon. The company told me it is only in the concept and prototype stages for now. But it does make me more excited for the 20th anniversary edition iPhone next year. If Apple can deliver a similar experience, I’m seated.
An unexpected surprise
Just when I thought I was done with the Next-Gen Bezelless Concept Phone, I was greeted with an unexpectedly cool design.
The new Tecno concept phone has a flowery 3D effect on the rear panel, which looks gorgeous, especially since you don’t need to wear any sort of glasses to see the 3D effect. The company has built some sort of shadow, which makes the design pop at you. I tried capturing it in photos, but I don’t think it is visible here. I hope Tecno rolls out this design on its mass-market products, so we can have more fun slab phones.
