iPhone 20 Could Mark Apple's Biggest Redesign in Years: A New Era May Begin in 2027

Apple may be preparing something far more ambitious than a routine product refresh for the iPhone's 20th anniversary. Expected to arrive in September 2027, the commemorative models, currently referred to as the iPhone 20, could represent one of the most significant turning points in the company's smartphone design history. According to multiple leaks, Apple wants to take the transformation it began with the iPhone X ten years ago even further, rethinking the relationship between the display and the device's frame.

Although Apple has yet to confirm any details, the new lineup could be marketed as the iPhone 20 Pro and iPhone 20 Pro Max. One of the most striking design elements reportedly under consideration is a glass panel that curves gently around all four edges of the device. This approach could make the surrounding bezels almost disappear, while concealing much of the metal frame when the phone is viewed from the front. The result would be an iPhone that looks remarkably close to a seamless piece of glass.

Screen sizes are also expected to increase slightly. Reports suggest that Apple is testing a Pro model with a display of around 6.41 inches and a larger Pro Max version measuring approximately 6.96 inches. The latter could even be promoted as a device with a screen close to seven inches. While those figures may not appear dramatically different from today's large-screen iPhones, thinner borders and curved edges could give the devices a substantially different appearance.

Could physical buttons become a thing of the past?

The rumored changes may extend well beyond the phone's exterior. Apple is reportedly exploring solid-state replacements for the Side button, volume controls, Action button and Camera Control.

Unlike conventional buttons, these controls would not physically move when pressed. Instead, pressure-sensitive components would detect the user's input, while haptic motors would recreate the sensation of a traditional click. The buttons would remain in familiar locations, but the interaction would be based on touch and simulated feedback rather than mechanical movement.

Apple has experimented with similar technology before. The iPhone 7 introduced a Home button that did not physically travel, while MacBook trackpads have long used haptic feedback to simulate a click. Bringing this approach to the iPhone could reduce mechanical wear and potentially improve water resistance by eliminating moving components. However, Apple would still need to ensure that the controls feel natural in everyday use, including when the phone is inside a case or operated with gloves.

Face ID and the front camera could move beneath the display

Perhaps the most ambitious part of the iPhone 20 rumors concerns its front-facing design. Apple is said to be testing ways to place Face ID components and even the selfie camera beneath the display. If successful, this could eliminate the visible cutouts that have become a familiar part of recent iPhones, including the Dynamic Island.

There is an important distinction between moving Face ID sensors under the screen and making a front-facing camera work through a display panel. Both present technical challenges, but the camera introduces additional concerns involving light transmission, image quality and color accuracy. As a result, there is no guarantee that both technologies will be ready for mass production by 2027.

One possible compromise would be to hide the Face ID hardware beneath the display while retaining a small circular cutout for the selfie camera. Another option could involve a significantly reduced Dynamic Island-style opening. In other words, Apple may be aiming for a completely uninterrupted screen, but the final product could still feature a small visible opening.

Samsung is reportedly developing next-generation OLED panels for Apple's anniversary iPhone. The panels are expected to be thinner and brighter, with improvements to light transmission. Color Filter on Encapsulation (COE), an advanced manufacturing technique previously associated with the project, was also expected to help reduce display thickness and improve efficiency. However, more recent reports suggest that COE may not arrive in Apple's Pro iPhones until a later generation, potentially beyond 2027.

A new processor and hardware built around AI

The internal hardware could receive an equally substantial upgrade. The Pro models are rumored to feature Apple's A21 Pro processor, potentially built using a second-generation 2-nanometer manufacturing process. A more advanced production node could bring improvements in both performance and power efficiency, while also supporting increasingly demanding on-device AI features.

Apple is also reportedly evaluating advanced memory technology involving vertically stacked DRAM. This design could increase memory bandwidth and speed up data transfers between the processor and memory. Such improvements would be particularly useful for AI workloads running directly on the phone. However, the inclusion of stacked memory in the anniversary models has not been confirmed.

Photography could see a major upgrade as well. Apple is said to be developing a custom image sensor based on LOFIC, or Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor, technology. The system is designed to preserve more detail in extremely bright and dark areas of the same image. Reports suggest that the sensor could theoretically deliver up to 20 stops of dynamic range. If that figure translates into real-world performance, it could represent a significant step forward for both photography and video recording in challenging lighting conditions.

Battery technology is another area where Apple may be looking to make progress. Silicon-anode batteries can potentially store more energy within the same physical space than conventional designs. Their adoption could therefore improve battery life without requiring a larger battery or a thicker phone.

Connectivity may also benefit from Apple's ongoing efforts to develop its own cellular modems. A third-generation in-house modem is reportedly in the pipeline, with the goal of improving network performance, power efficiency and connectivity-related capabilities. Whether it will be ready for the 20th anniversary models remains an open question.

The biggest iPhone design leap since the iPhone X?

Bringing all of these technologies together in a single product will be no easy task. Under-display cameras and Face ID systems, in particular, have been rumored for several years, yet technical limitations have repeatedly pushed their expected arrival further into the future. Solid-state buttons have also appeared in previous iPhone rumors without making it into a commercial device.

Still, the overall direction emerging from recent reports is notable. Rather than treating the 20th anniversary as an opportunity for a faster processor or a better camera alone, Apple appears to be exploring a broader redesign that could affect everything from the device's appearance to the way users interact with it.

The name, specifications and launch schedule of the anniversary iPhone have not been officially announced. Nevertheless, if even a substantial portion of these reported developments makes it into the final product, 2027 could become one of the most memorable years in the iPhone's history. The big question is whether Apple can deliver another defining design moment comparable to the arrival of the iPhone X in 2017.