Apple is reportedly preparing a significant design overhaul for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary in 2027. According to Bloomberg, the company is developing a curved glass design that would wrap around the entire device, creating a seamless aesthetic unlike any iPhone before it.
Highlights
- Major Redesign in 2027: Apple is reportedly developing a curved all-glass “Glasswing” iPhone to mark the product’s 20th anniversary.
- Liquid Glass Aesthetic: The design aligns with Apple’s iOS “Liquid Glass” philosophy, emphasizing translucency, depth, and seamless visuals.
- Three-Year Roadmap: 2025 may bring a slimmer iPhone Air, 2026 a foldable model, and 2027 the curved anniversary edition.
- Under-Display Tech: The anniversary model is expected to hide the camera and Face ID under the screen, eliminating visible cutouts.
- Software-Hardware Synergy: iOS 26 could preview the visual identity of the anniversary iPhone through its fluid, translucent design.
- Durability Concerns: Analysts warn fully curved glass may pose risks for breakage and complicate screen protection.
- Historic Milestone: Similar to how the iPhone X redefined design in 2017.
If realized, the design would mark a milestone comparable to 2017, when Apple introduced the iPhone X for the product’s 10th anniversary, featuring an all-screen OLED display, the notch, and the removal of the home button.
The “Liquid Glass” Design Direction
The concept is said to align with Apple’s evolving “Liquid Glass” design philosophy in iOS. This visual approach emphasizes depth, translucency, and fluid interactions.
Extending the theme from software to hardware suggests Apple is seeking greater cohesion between its interface and industrial design.
Roadmap Before 2027
Apple’s long-term plan reportedly involves a sequence of major releases,
- 2025 – A slimmer iPhone Air, focusing on lightweight design.
- 2026 – Apple’s first foldable smartphone, with display technology aimed at minimizing the crease common in foldables.
- 2027 – The 20th-anniversary iPhone, featuring a curved all-glass build.
This three-year strategy suggests a deliberate progression, building anticipation toward the anniversary model.
The “Glasswing” iPhone
Codenamed Glasswing, the 20th-anniversary edition is expected to eliminate visible bezels and display cutouts. Reports suggest Apple is working to embed both the front-facing camera and Face ID technology under the screen, enabling a nearly uninterrupted display.
iOS 26 and Hardware Synergy
Apple’s upcoming iOS 26, expected to introduce a “Liquid Glass” visual theme with translucent layers and fluid motion, may serve as a precursor to the Glasswing iPhone’s hardware identity.
This alignment between software aesthetics and physical design reflects Apple’s strategy of merging form and function.
While the design promises a futuristic look, analysts caution about practical limitations. Fully curved glass could introduce durability issues, make applying screen protectors more difficult, and expose edges to greater risk of damage.
These concerns parallel earlier doubts about under-display cameras, highlighting the tension between elegance and usability.
Apple actually has a history of using milestone anniversaries to debut bold redesigns. The iPhone X redefined the smartphone landscape in 2017.
