Apple’s 20th‑Anniversary iPhone: The Latest on 2027’s Rumored All‑Screen Redesign

A milestone year looms: why 2027 matters

Apple unveiled the first iPhone on January 9, 2007, with U.S. sales beginning June 29, 2007. That makes 2027 the 20th anniversary of the product that reshaped consumer tech—and the likely target for a commemorative iPhone unlike any before it. (apple.com )

The big-picture roadmap taking shape

Multiple high-quality reports point to a special, redesigned iPhone in fall 2027 featuring a seamless, edge‑to‑edge front. The Information reports Apple is planning at least one model that places the front camera beneath the display for a truly edge‑to‑edge experience, part of a staggered release cadence that splits premium and mainstream models between late 2026 and early 2027. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has similarly described a “mostly glass,” cutout‑free anniversary iPhone on Apple’s internal roadmap. (theinformation.com )

Display: curved glass, ultra‑slim bezels—and a new panel stack

Recent leaks and supply‑chain chatter suggest Apple is evaluating a quad‑edge approach that visually eliminates the bezels by subtly curving the glass on all four sides. Korean tech reporting (via MacRumors) describes “four‑edge bending” coupled with extremely thin borders, while newer notes say Apple is tapping Samsung for a custom, brighter, thinner “micro‑curved” OLED that could deliver the effect without the palm‑rejection issues of older Android curves. (macrumors.com )

There’s also talk of COE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) OLED, which removes the traditional polarizer to reduce thickness and improve brightness—technology Apple is rumored to be pairing with optics that make the bezel visually recede. Internally, some sources nickname the look “Liquid Glass,” though that appears to be marketing shorthand rather than a confirmed brand name. (macrumors.com )

Cameras and biometrics: the all‑screen challenge

To go truly all‑screen, Apple needs to hide the Face ID array and the selfie camera. Here the rumormill diverges:

• Optimistic timeline: under‑display Face ID debuts on a Pro model before 2027, with an under‑panel selfie camera arriving on the anniversary phone a year later. Some China‑based leakers claim this is on track. (macrumors.com )
• Skeptical view: respected display analyst Ross Young now projects a later window for full under‑panel camera + Face ID, suggesting a smaller Dynamic Island or a hole‑punch may still remain in 2027. Recent MacRumors roundups echo that Apple is still testing, with image‑quality hurdles the sticking point. (macrumors.com )

A late‑April leak even floated a fallback: a reduced Dynamic Island or a punch‑hole paired with Samsung’s so‑called “Polar ID” facial authentication if under‑display imaging can’t meet Apple’s bar in time. Treat that as experimental for now, but it underscores the engineering tightrope. (macrumors.com )

Buttons, materials, and feel: moving to haptics

A credible thread in 2025–2026 reporting is the return of a more sculpted, glass‑forward chassis—and the potential removal of mechanical buttons. A widely cited Weibo tipster claimed Apple’s solid‑state (haptic) solution finished functional verification, with mass production tied to the 2027 iPhone. Apple previously shelved a similar plan, but the anniversary timing could line up with the revived design. (tomsguide.com )

Silicon, modems, and AI headroom

By 2027, Apple’s anniversary models are expected to sit on second‑generation 2‑nanometer A‑series chips and, crucially, Apple‑designed cellular modems that the company aims to outperform Qualcomm on speed and efficiency—important for both battery life and on‑device AI features that will be table‑stakes by then. These details come from consolidated reporting that tracks Apple’s multiyear silicon and radio roadmap. (macrumors.com )

Naming and lineup: iPhone 20, iPhone “XX,” or something else?

Because Apple skipped “9” for the iPhone X in 2017, several outlets speculate the company could bypass “iPhone 19” and brand the 2027 flagship as “iPhone 20” or even “iPhone XX.” The Information’s schedule hints also raise the possibility that Apple uses the anniversary halo to differentiate models across two seasonal windows. Nothing is final—Apple’s branding often locks late—but the “XX/iPhone 20” moniker is gaining traction in rumor coverage. (macrumors.com )

Foldable context: a two‑track strategy

Most roadmaps now position a first foldable iPhone for the second half of 2026, followed by a second‑generation foldable in 2027. That suggests Apple may celebrate the iPhone’s 20th birthday with both a radical slab redesign and Gen‑2 foldable in the lineup, giving shoppers two high‑end, high‑headline options. Supply analysts still warn of tight foldable volumes into 2027. (macrumors.com )

Price and availability

Early commentary frames the glassy, curve‑heavy construction as “extraordinarily complex,” with some watchers bracing for the most expensive iPhone yet. As for timing, expect Apple’s anniversary hardware to land in its typical fall window; the historical release cadence—and the 2007 on‑sale date—both point that way. (tomsguide.com )

What’s still in flux

• Under‑panel selfie image quality and under‑display Face ID reliability remain gating factors; if they slip, expect a smaller Dynamic Island or hole‑punch compromise. (macrumors.com )
• The exact curvature: reports range from fully quad‑edge glass to a subtler “micro‑curved” look that achieves the bezel‑less illusion without extreme edge bends. (macrumors.com )
• Button strategy: solid‑state haptics are back on the table, but Apple has reversed course on this before. Watch late‑stage supply chain signals in 2027. (tomsguide.com )
• Branding: “iPhone 20” and “iPhone XX” are speculative and could change close to launch. (macrumors.com )

The bottom line

With the iPhone’s 20th birthday arriving in 2027, Apple appears to be lining up its most ambitious slab redesign since the iPhone X—an edge‑to‑edge, glass‑forward device that either minimizes or eliminates visible cutouts, possibly trades mechanical buttons for haptics, and rides next‑gen Apple silicon and modems. The industrial design looks set to be the story; the only real question is how much of Apple’s all‑screen dream clears the engineering bar by launch day. (theinformation.com )