Apple’s design guru Sir Jonathan Ive says the iPhone X handset was in the works a full five years before it was revealed last month.

Speaking at the New Yorker’s TechFest conference on Friday (via AppleInsider), the Londoner said the company’s initial attempts at an edge-to-edge phone began way before the tech was ready.

He told the audience Apple worked with massive prototypes while it waited for the display tech to match its ambitions.

“There are certain ideas that we have, and we’re waiting for the technology to catch up,” he said, speaking of future Apple products.

Reasons why it hasn’t been done

The Knight of the Realm said he and other Apple designers have to guard against trying to do new things just for there sake of it.

Related: iPhone X

He added: “There really are two very distinct behaviors that I have to sort of engage in and I sort of have,” he said. “On one hand, it is to be so curious and inquisitive and you know what that looks like with the constant questions, being light on your feet and being prepared to be wrong.

“And then at the same time, if you’re going to do something new, that means that the reason it hasn’t been done before is — there are 55 reasons why it hasn’t been done before And so you have to be so focused so resolute.”

iPhone misuse

When asked about how the iPhone has changed the world, Ive surprisingly said many iPhone owners misuse the device.

He said: “Like any tool, you can see there’s wonderful use and then there’s misuse.”

When quizzed further he clarified by adding “perhaps, constant use,” qualified as misuse.

Apple’s need for the technology to catch up doesn’t quite explain how why other manufacturers managed to do away with bezels before the iPhone X.

However, his hint that the company’s best ideas are still waiting for technological advancements will set Apple fans’ minds racing.

What do you think Apple has on deck? Share your hopes with us @TrustedReviews on Twitter.

Chris Smith is a freelance technology journalist for a host of UK tech publications, including Trusted Reviews. He's based in South Florida, USA. …