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This week’s episode of the MacRumors Show looks ahead to the 20th anniversary iPhone, the redesigned model Apple is expected to launch in 2027.<\/p>\n
Apple’s plans for the device name remain unclear. The company skipped the “iPhone 9” and went straight to the iPhone X in the 10th year of the device in 2017, and it is expected to skip the “iPhone 19” in the same way. Rumors have referred to the 2027 models as both “iPhone 20” and “iPhone XX” as placeholder names, and it’s still possible that they will sit above the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max as a separate, superior group, or possibly replace them as usual. Apple has previously reset the iPhone brand with the iPhone Air, whose successor is expected to be the iPhone Air 2.<\/p>\n
The 2027 iPhone is rumored to be the biggest redesign since the iPhone X. Apple is reportedly aiming for a design closer to the curved glass bezel that surrounds all four edges and a return to the glass back, in line with the single glass slab that former design leader Jony Ive long described as a goal. The frame is said to be a thin, polished band, which could be the aluminum material used in Apple’s straight-edged models, with a display that curves sideways rather than following one constant curve.<\/p>\n
Displays that bend down the sides can be prone to accidental touches, a problem seen in previous Android handsets with waterfall edges, although Apple is expected to engineer the device to work with a case. The length of the bend, and how far the display appears to distort at the edges, is still unclear.<\/p>\n
Apple reportedly wants a front without cutouts, but other technologies not shown are unlikely to be perfect in the long run, meaning some kind of front-facing cutout is expected to continue. Current reports point to a progressively smaller Dynamic Island, Face ID parts that move under the panel, and an under-display camera that comes last, as image quality still degrades when the lens sits behind the display.<\/p>\n
Apple is also rumored to be revisiting solid-state haptic buttons, reviving the “Project Bongo” effort that reached prototype hardware years ago before being shelved. Reports have revealed a number of potential positives, including a cleaner frame with no moving parts, a reduction in mechanical button failures that cause many AppleCare repairs, and more interior space for a larger battery or additional haptic engine.<\/p>\n
Apple is reportedly developing a custom image sensor that will replace the Sony sensors currently used in the entire iPhone lineup, following the company’s move to bring silicon, modem, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth chips in-house. The rear camera platform is likely to remain, due to the space required by the folded optics used for the phone’s lens.<\/p>\n
The birthday models are expected to share the second-generation 2-nanometer A21 chip, as well as better performance and Apple’s new modem. A 6,000mAh battery has appeared in other rumors, though it’s unclear if that figure is based on supply chain information.<\/p>\n
Reverse wireless charging appeared in the same report and will allow the iPhone to charge accessories such as AirPods or Apple Watch. The basic hardware is already there, as iPhones can charge the MagSafe battery pack using its wireless coil, but Apple has never enabled the power in other devices, a feature that Samsung has offered in its phones for several years. Its performance in the flagship model may depend on the large battery and the efficiency benefits that may be rumored to work, given how much wireless charging the back draws on the handset itself.<\/p>\n
This year’s iPhone 18 Pro models are rumored to be modest updates, with a larger redesign reserved for the 20th anniversary model. It is expected to arrive in the fall of 2027, following the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air\u200c 2 in the spring. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe to keep up with new episodes and clips.<\/p>\n
You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly to your player.<\/p>\n