Apple has not messed with the iPhone’s design much over the past decade… but that may change with the smartphone’s 20th anniversary in 2027.
The tech giant is planning a design change similar in scope to the iPhone X in 2017, which was launched on its 10th anniversary. That design update ushered in the all-screen layout, camera notch, and Face ID as a replacement for Touch ID.
For what is being referred to internally as the iPhone 20 or iPhone XX, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is exploring an all-glass, button-free design, finally delivering the uninterrupted screen it has been moving towards since the iPhone X.
The device is described as “extraordinarily complex” to manufacture, requiring new components and production techniques. That complexity could slow Apple’s efforts to shift more of its manufacturing base to India.
Despite removing the physical camera notch, Apple is expected to keep the Dynamic Island interface, which displays contextual app information through widgets. Apple has already built much of its software experience around this design element, making it less dependent on the notch itself.
Even so, the 20th-anniversary iPhone is far from guaranteed. Apple could still run into supply-chain or manufacturing challenges, and similar all-glass redesigns have been rumoured before without materialising. With the iPhone 17 breaking sales records, Apple may also be reluctant to make such a dramatic change too quickly.
Looking ahead to 2026, Apple’s focus is reportedly on camera upgrades, including the introduction of a variable aperture system that could debut with the iPhone 18 Pro. This would mark a shift toward more manual camera hardware, after years of Apple relying on software to replicate similar effects.
Foldable iPhone the big draw in 2026
The most anticipated hardware launch in the near term is Apple’s long-rumoured foldable iPhone. Apple would be entering a market already populated by Samsung, Google, Motorola, and Honor, all of which currently sell foldable smartphones. Reports suggest Apple is working on a 7.8-inch foldable iPhone featuring a liquid-metal hinge.
Details remain limited, and there is disagreement over the launch timeline. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested that manufacturing challenges could push the foldable iPhone’s release back to 2027 rather than 2026.
Apple may be particularly cautious with a foldable phone, given its dominant position in tablets with the iPad. However, market data shows consumers tend to keep iPads for longer than iPhones, which could make a premium-priced foldable iPhone an attractive trade-off, especially if it launches at roughly twice the price of an iPad.
More service updates to come this year
Alongside new hardware, Apple is also preparing a wide range of software updates for iOS 27, expected to be unveiled at WWDC this year. A major upgrade to Siri is set to headline the event, with reports suggesting it will be powered by Google Gemini and operate more like a conversational chatbot than a traditional voice assistant. Apple Intelligence is also expected to gain additional features.
Outside of AI, 2026 appears to be a consolidation year for Apple’s software platforms, with a renewed focus on optimisation and reducing interface clutter across iOS. The approach mirrors Apple’s past strategy with OS X Leopard in 2008, followed by OS X Snow Leopard in 2009, where a feature-heavy release was followed by a cycle focused on refinement and performance.
Also read: The biggest Apple leaks right now sketch out what could be coming next for the iPhone, iOS, and Mac lineup.
