In 2027, the iPhone will celebrate its 20th anniversary – and Apple is preparing one of the most radical design changes since the iPhone X. Internally, the project is codenamed "Glasswing," inspired by the transparent-winged glasswing butterfly. It will feature a liquid glass display, an under-display front camera, haptic solid-state buttons, and a second-generation A21 chip built on a 2nm process. Contrary to initial assumptions, however, Apple is not planning a separate special edition model, but will instead apply the anniversary design directly to the Pro series.
Apple is known for carefully preparing major design changes and only implementing them when the technology is mature. For its 10th anniversary in 2017, the company launched the iPhone X with Face ID, an edge-to-edge display, and a design leap that set the course for years to come. Ten years later, everything indicates that Apple is preparing the next big step – and is putting it into the flagship model of the series.
Rumors about the anniversary model are swirling. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, in his latest "Power On" newsletter, has confirmed the internal codename Glasswing, clarifying that the hardware concept is specifically aligned with Apple's Liquid Glass software design system, which will be unveiled in 2025. Meanwhile, a research note from analyst Jeff Pu indicates that instead of a separate anniversary iPhone, the Pro model itself will showcase the new design language. This article compiles all the latest rumors and will be continuously updated.
The most important points in brief
| Detail | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Code name | Glasswing (internal at Apple) |
| Model name | iPhone 20 / iPhone XX / iPhone Pro – iPhone 19 will likely be skipped. |
| Release | September 2027 |
| Chip | A21 (TSMC 2 nm, second generation) |
| Display | Liquid glass OLED with subtle, four-sided curvature |
| Front camera | For the first time under the display |
| Modem | Apple modem (third generation), in the entire iPhone lineup |
| Operation | Haptic solid-state keys without mechanical components |
| Camera | New HDR sensor with up to 20 stops of dynamic range |
Codename Glasswing: The transparent butterfly
Apple's internal codename for the anniversary model already reveals the central design concept: Glasswing refers to the glasswing butterfly, a species of butterfly native to Central America whose wings are transparent. Apple is reportedly using precisely this image internally for the 2027 iPhone – a device whose glass edges seamlessly blend into the display, appearing almost invisible.
Mark Gurman confirmed the codename in his latest Sunday edition of "Power On," thus filling an important gap: Until now, there was no clear connection between the hardware concept and Apple's Liquid Glass software design system, which is set to be introduced in 2025. This integration is precisely what the codename implies. The software interface is not only intended to function on the new iPhone display, but also to visually merge with it.
The timing is particularly revealing. Apple unveiled Liquid Glass at WWDC 2025 – at a time when, according to internal plans, Glasswing had already been in development for some time. This suggests that Liquid Glass wasn't created by chance, but was deliberately designed to merge seamlessly with the hardware concept. What appears to be two separate worlds – iOS design language here, iPhone industrial design there – is apparently a single, multi-year plan internally.
Strategy: The Pro model will become the anniversary model
For a long time, many observers assumed Apple would reserve the radical anniversary design for a specially created special edition model – similar to the leap from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone X in 2017. However, a recent research note by analyst Jeff Pu paints a different picture: Apple is expected to focus its innovation efforts for the second half of 2027 exclusively on the Pro models. The four-sided curved display and the under-display front camera will thus define the Pro line itself – without a separate special edition.
Pu's assessment aligns with Mark Gurman's original Bloomberg report, which already spoke of a "bold new Pro model" with significantly more glass. The logic behind this is understandable: Apple's lineup has already been revamped several times in recent years – the iPhone Air replaced the iPhone Plus in 2025, and the iPhone Ultra, a foldable flagship model, will be released for the first time in fall 2026. An additional special edition model would only make the lineup more confusing.
This means that anyone wanting the most advanced iPhone of its generation in 2027 will opt for the Pro series. The anniversary design is the Pro line. It's a strategy that consistently follows through on Apple's premium push of recent years.
Design: Liquid Glass and four-sided curvature
The most striking feature of the anniversary iPhone is the new display. According to several consistent reports, Apple is using an OLED panel that curves subtly downwards on all four edges. The effect: From the front, the device appears almost like a single block of glass, without a visible frame – an impression that was already considered the hallmark of iPhone design under Jony Ive's leadership.
Mark Gurman has now explicitly confirmed that Liquid Glass is intended not only as a software design language but also as a hardware concept. Apple is deliberately intertwining the hardware design language and Liquid Glass software so that the user interface appears as if it were an extension of the physical casing. Reports from the Korean supply chain also point to a so-called "four-edge bending" display – a screen that curves slightly downwards on all four edges.
The curvature is expected to be significantly more subtle than on previous Samsung or Huawei devices. Instead of an aggressive edge curve, Apple is apparently combining minimal physical curvature with optical refraction and clever glass shaping. There's also a technical reason behind this: According to internal sources, true four-sided curvature presents problems with pixel density, touch sensitivity, and long-term stability – a middle ground of subtle curvature and optical tricks could deliver the same visual result without these drawbacks. This assessment aligns with the previously known iPhone 20 design leaks, which point to certain hurdles in the implementation.
Behind the scenes, the supply chain machinery is already starting up. According to a leak from Digital Chat Station, Samsung Display is reportedly producing a special panel with micro-curvature on all four sides – thinner and brighter than previous OLEDs.
A concrete indication of the development status has now leaked from China. The Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station describes a tested prototype with a fully curved display, where the panel seamlessly blends into the frame on all four edges. This would be the first hard data point confirming that the quad-curved concept has made the leap from the concept phase to actual supply chain testing. Remarkably, the prototype cannot be assigned to a specific model name – the original post mentions neither "Pro" nor a version number. This leaves it unclear whether the fully curved display is reserved for the anniversary model or whether Apple will roll it out across the entire Pro line in 2027. Both scenarios would have significant implications for Apple's premium strategy.
Front camera and Face ID under the display
For the Liquid Glass concept to work perfectly, the front of the device must also be unobstructed. Apple has been working for years to move both the front camera and Face ID sensors under the display.
The latest prototype report from China suggests that Apple has already achieved its goal with the Face ID system – the sensors are said to disappear completely under the panel in the test. However, the situation is different with the selfie camera: in the prototype, it still sits in a hole-punch cutout. This is precisely where the real technical bottleneck lies. With a camera under the display, the light must pass through the OLED layer to reach the sensor without any noticeable degradation in image quality. Previous attempts by Android manufacturers have shown that image quality measurably deteriorates at this point – a compromise that Apple, based on everything we know, will not accept.
This suggests three possible scenarios for 2027: First, Apple manages to integrate the selfie camera under the display by launch, resulting in a completely uninterrupted front for the anniversary model. Second, Apple retains the hole-punch cutout and uses it as a differentiating factor for an even more radical anniversary model a year later. Third, Apple postpones the concept of a completely bezel-less iPhone by one or two generations. Display analyst Ross Young has repeatedly pointed out that a fully production-ready solution by 2027 is not guaranteed.
Haptic solid-state buttons
A second detail fits perfectly with the four-sided curved glass design: According to several reports, Apple is planning to introduce haptic solid-state buttons without mechanical components for the first time. Instead of classic push buttons for power and volume, pressure-sensitive surfaces would be used, providing haptic feedback to simulate a press. This would affect all four physical controls: the power button, volume buttons, action button, and camera control.
The advantage isn't just aesthetic. Any additional physical cutout would undermine the design concept of a continuous glass casing. Solid-state buttons solve this problem by seamlessly integrating into the edge of the casing. Apple had already considered the concept for the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023 as part of "Project Bongo" and again targeted it for the iPhone 16 Pro – both plans were scrapped in late development stages. However, with the anniversary model, the technology makes compelling strategic sense for the first time.
Recent indications suggest that Apple may have finally succeeded on its third attempt. According to the Chinese leaker Instant Digital, the buttons have passed recent practical tests – they work with gloves, with wet hands, in extreme temperatures, and even when the iPhone is in a case. Particularly noteworthy is the power supply: an extremely low-power microprocessor keeps the buttons functional even when the iPhone is switched off or the battery is empty – a feature previously only seen in emergency call or NFC functions.
Chip: A21 manufactured using the second-generation 2nm process
The iPhone Pro 2027 is expected to be powered by the A21 chip – Apple's next generational leap after the A20 Pro in the iPhone 18 Pro. The A21 is based on TSMC's second-generation 2nm process (N2P), while the iPhone 18 Pro still uses the first 2nm process. As usual, TSMC will handle the manufacturing, and is simultaneously working on 1.4nm structures (A18 class), which, however, will not be available until 2028 at the earliest.
The chip is designed to offer more performance with lower energy consumption, thus laying the foundation for new AI features, advanced camera algorithms, and longer battery life. With each chip generation, Apple also shifts the proportion of calculations that run locally on the device rather than in the cloud – a trend that is likely to be further expanded with the A21 in 2027.
Modem: Apple's own solution across the entire lineup
Up to now, the cellular modems in iPhones have come from Qualcomm. However, Apple has consistently developed its own modem chips in recent years: The C1 debuted in the iPhone 16e, the C1X followed in the iPhone Air, and the C2 with mmWave 5G support is expected to be used in the iPhone 18 Pro models as early as fall 2026.
By 2027, Apple is expected to have established its own in-house developed modems across the entire iPhone lineup. The latest generation is projected to be faster and more efficient than Qualcomm modems, and its tight integration with Apple's hardware is expected to improve both speed and battery life. Apple's modems are also expected to support enhanced AI features and significantly reduce energy consumption – a crucial factor in a device with a curved glass design that limits internal space.
Camera: New HDR sensor with film camera level
On the camera side, a sensor upgrade is on the way, which Apple is already preparing for 2026. Reports indicate that Apple is working on a new HDR sensor with up to 20 stops of dynamic range – a value previously reserved for professional film cameras. This would allow details in very bright and very dark areas of the image to be captured simultaneously, without either being washed out.
The variable aperture, which Apple plans to introduce with the iPhone 18 Pro, is likely to be further refined in the anniversary Pro model. It mechanically regulates the amount of light and depth of field, automatically adjusting to different lighting conditions.
A 200MP telephoto camera, which is also being discussed, is unlikely to arrive in 2027. Current reports suggest that Apple will only take this step in 2028 or later.
Naming question: Is Apple skipping a number again?
Apple has already demonstrated how an anniversary model can be effectively presented through its name. In 2017, the company jumped directly from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone X – there was never an iPhone 9. The Roman numeral X symbolized the 10th anniversary and was one of the strongest marketing tools of that launch.
The same question arises again on the 20th anniversary. The internal codename Glasswing will certainly not become the official marketing name – Apple has never adopted codenames for the final product name in the past. After the iPhone 18 in spring 2027, the iPhone 19 would follow numerically – but that would be boring for a design leap as radical as the recent iPhone X. Three scenarios are realistic:
iPhone 20: Apple skips the iPhone 19 and goes straight to the 20. This would be the most direct parallel to the 2017 jump and would effectively convey the anniversary. Since 2019, Apple has been using Arabic numerals again anyway, so the move from 18 to 20 would be stylistically consistent.
iPhone XX: The Roman numeral version would be the most emotionally appealing solution and would visually connect directly to the iPhone X. However, Apple has deliberately avoided using Roman numerals since the iPhone XR/XS (2018), and "XX" can be interpreted ambiguously in some markets – a risk that Apple has consistently avoided so far.
Only iPhone Pro / iPhone Pro Max: Pu's latest report refers exclusively to "iPhone Pro" and "iPhone Pro Max" as the models sporting the anniversary design – without a version number. This would be the most radical step: Apple could completely abandon the numbered logic in the Pro segment, similar to the MacBook Pro, where the generation designation no longer plays a role in the model name.
An iPhone 19 as a classic continuation of the original model is considered unlikely. Apple's tradition shows that the company deliberately stages anniversary moments – and a simple incremental numbering would contradict this strategy. Apple is typically expected to make a final decision only shortly before the unveiling.
Release: September 2027
The first iPhone was unveiled on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007. The actual 20th anniversary therefore falls on June 29, 2027 – in the middle of the typical iPhone development cycle, but outside the classic September release.
It is not expected that Apple will abandon its established schedule for the anniversary model. The launch is likely to take place as usual in September 2027. Even for the 10th anniversary in 2017, Apple strictly adhered to the September date and presented the iPhone X together with the iPhone 8 – without any prior announcement in the summer.
Price: Premium boost expected
There's no concrete price indication for the 2027 iPhone Pro yet – but the strategic logic provides clear clues. According to two analysts, Apple is planning an aggressive entry-level pricing strategy for the iPhone 18 Pro in fall 2026 to secure market share. A year later, the Pro model with its radical anniversary design would be the natural opportunity to reposition the premium segment in terms of price.
The combination of a liquid glass display, under-display camera, solid-state buttons, and A21 chip justifies a significantly higher starting price from Apple's perspective. The iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max distinction will likely remain, but both will be noticeably more expensive than their predecessors.
iPhone Pro 2027: When the wait is worth it
The anniversary iPhone will be more than just a regular annual update – it will bundle several fundamental hardware innovations into a single generation. Anyone planning to upgrade to an iPhone 18 Pro in fall 2026 anyway should consider whether waiting the extra year for the 2027 model is worth it. However, for users of an iPhone 15 Pro or older, the wait should be worthwhile, as the leaps in display, camera sensor, chip, and design add up to one of the biggest generational changes in iPhone history.
Nevertheless, the timing is important: there are still over 16 months until the official unveiling. During this time, plans can shift, technical hurdles can arise, and individual design decisions can be reversed. However, Apple's strategy of recent years shows that design leaps are only implemented when they are technically mature – if in doubt, Apple prefers a delay to a half-baked product. Anyone interested in the anniversary model should closely follow developments over the coming months.
The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Anna Hoychuk)
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