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In 2027, the iPhone will celebrate its 20th anniversary, and Apple is reportedly preparing its most radical design change since the iPhone X. Internally, the project is known as „Glasswing“—named after a butterfly with transparent wings. It will feature a glass casing, a four-sided curved display, and buttons without mechanical components.
Apple only implements major design changes when the technology is viable. In 2017, the iPhone X, with Face ID and an edge-to-edge display, was released to mark the 10th anniversary and set the course for the following years. Ten years later, everything indicates that the next big step is imminent – and that it will land in the flagship model of the series.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman 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. Analyst Jeff Pu adds that instead of a separate anniversary iPhone, the Pro model itself will become the vehicle for the new design language. The year will be packed anyway – six new iPhone models are expected to be released in 2027.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Code name | Glasswing (internal at Apple), models V73 and V74 |
| Model name | iPhone 20 / iPhone XX / iPhone Pro – iPhone 19 will likely be skipped |
| Release | September 2027 |
| Chip | A21 Pro (TSMC 2 nm, second generation), codename Naxos |
| Display | Liquid-glass OLED with subtle, four-sided curvature; COE and LTPO+ delayed according to the latest report |
| Display size | Approximately 6.41 inches for the Pro, approximately 6.96 inches for the Pro Max successor (marketed as 7 inches) – both panels are in testing, not final |
| Resolution | Approximately 2,686 × 1,236 and 2,912 × 1,340 pixels, pixel density similar to the iPhone 18 Pro at around 460 ppi |
| Housing | Glass front, back and around the edges, thin metal band in the middle – not final |
| Building height | Controversial: a leak mentions iPhone Air-level thickness (5.6 mm), while the iPhone 18 Pro measures 8.75 mm |
| Front camera | According to the latest leak, the recess is to remain, most recently referred to as a small Dynamic Island – not final. |
| Modem | Apple modem in all iPhones of the 2027 generation |
| Controls | Haptic solid-state keys without mechanical components |
| Camera | New HDR sensor with up to 20 stops of dynamic range |
| Cooling | Enlarged steam chamber |
Codename Glasswing: The transparent butterfly
The internal codename reveals the central design concept. Glasswing refers to the glasswing butterfly, a species of butterfly native to Central America with transparent wings. Apple is using precisely this image internally for the 2027 iPhone – a device whose glass edges flow seamlessly into the display, appearing almost invisible.
Mark Gurman confirmed the codename in a Sunday edition of his newsletter, thus filling a gap: Until now, there was no clear connection between the hardware concept and Apple's Liquid Glass design system. The software interface is not only intended to function on the new display, but also to visually merge with it.
Strategy: The Pro model will become the anniversary model
For a long time, many observers assumed Apple would reserve the radical design for a specially created model – similar to the leap from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone X in 2017. A research note by Jeff Pu paints a different picture: The innovation focus for the second half of 2027 is shifting to the Pro models. The four-sided curved display is intended to define the Pro line itself. Regarding the under-display front camera, Pu only mentioned ongoing development; after recent leaks, its future is now uncertain.
This aligns with Gurman's original report, which already mentioned a bold new Pro model with significantly more glass. The logic is understandable: Apple's lineup has already been restructured several times – the iPhone Air replaced the iPhone Plus in 2025, and the iPhone Duo, launched in October 2026, is the first foldable flagship model in the range. An additional special edition would make the lineup unwieldy.
A more recent report provides further details: The anniversary iPhone is expected to be released in two versions, roughly the same size as the current iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and thus directly succeeding them. Internally, they are codenamed V73 and V74. Anyone wanting the most advanced iPhone of its generation in 2027 will therefore opt for the Pro series.
Design: Liquid Glass and four-sided curvature
A display that slopes down on all four edges
The most striking feature is the new display. Several consistent reports mention an OLED panel that curves subtly downwards on all four edges. 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.
Gurman explicitly confirmed that Liquid Glass is not just a software concept, but a hardware one: The user interface is designed to appear as if it were an extension of the physical casing. Reports from the Korean supply chain further suggest a four-edge bending display.
The curvature is significantly more subtle than on previous Samsung or Huawei devices. Instead of an aggressive edge curve, Apple apparently combines minimal physical curvature with optical refraction and glass shaping. There's a technical reason behind this: true four-sided curvature causes problems with pixel density, touch sensitivity, and long-term stability, and a report already warns of potential image distortion at the edges.
The anniversary model might only be an interim step. Leaker Instant Digital describes a wraparound display from Samsung that bends at almost right angles on all edges and would replace the frame. No document or timeframe is available to support this.
Prototype and panel size
A concrete indication of the development status comes from the supply chain: A fully curved display is already being tested, in which the panel blends seamlessly into the frame at all four edges. Samsung Display is reportedly manufacturing a special micro-curved panel for this purpose. Digital Chat Station attributed the testing to the Pro series of the 2027 generation.
The panel sizes have also been specified more precisely. According to a post on Weibo by Digital Chat Station, Apple is testing two new displays with diagonals of 6.41 and 6.96 inches; the larger one would be rounded up to a whole seven inches for marketing purposes. The smaller panel is expected to be used in the Pro model, the larger one in the Pro Max successor, which would thus have the largest display of any non-folding iPhone. The leaker had already mentioned both diagonals in July and August – this is consistent with the same source, not an independent confirmation.
The increases are modest. The iPhone 18 Pro, a standard rectangular model, measures 6.27 inches, while the Pro Max measures 6.86 inches; Apple markets both as 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively. This represents a diagonal increase of 2.2 and 1.5 percent – with virtually the same overall size, thanks to the elimination of bezels. This aligns with the fact that all models in the anniversary series are expected to receive larger displays.
Two panel technologies postponed
Not everything planned for the display will make it into the anniversary model. According to a report in the Korean trade publication ETNews from September 23, Apple has postponed two new display technologies it had been developing in collaboration with Samsung Display and LG Display: COE and LTPO+. The four-sided curved display is reportedly unaffected. The newspaper cites unnamed industry sources and provides neither documents nor a new release date.
COE replaces the polarizing film with a color filter on the panel's protective layer. This makes the display thinner and allows more light to pass through, saving energy while maintaining the same brightness. This is precisely the principle behind the panel without a polarizing filter that Digital Chat Station reported for its anniversary model in April. LTPO+ replaces some of the transistors with oxide transistors and is intended to reduce manufacturing steps and power consumption.
The report cites rising costs due to higher memory prices and a technology that does not yet meet Apple's requirements as reasons. Market research firm UBI Research anticipates that a display without a polarizer will not appear in the Pro models until the second half of 2029.
Resolution: more area, same sharpness
The post from September 21st also mentions the resolutions. The leaker states that the smaller model has approximately 2,686 × 1,236 pixels, and the larger one approximately 2,912 × 1,340. Based on their diagonals, both achieve around 460 pixels per inch – the value Apple lists for both models in the iPhone 18 Pro specifications. The 5.0 and 3.1 percent increase in pixels thus translates entirely into increased area, not sharpness, and the aspect ratio remains at approximately 2.17:1.
| Model | Diagonal (rectangle) | Resolution | Pixel density |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | 6.27 inches | 2.622 × 1.206 | 460 ppi |
| Anniversary model, smaller (Leak) | 6.41 inches | approx. 2,686 × 1,236 | approximately 461 ppi (calculated) |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | 6.86 inches | 2.868 × 1.320 | 460 ppi |
| Anniversary model, larger (Leak) | 6.96 inches | approx. 2,912 × 1,340 | approximately 461 ppi (calculated) |
Case: Glass instead of aluminum?
What would actually be new
Sources within the supply chain indicate that the relevant production facility has already been converted and is awaiting the start of processing; a glass housing is considered the preferred approach. The source explicitly does not mention any decision having been made.
It is now also known which facilities are involved: The glass production line for the iPhone Air has been retooled to handle more curved components. At 5.6 millimeters, the iPhone Air is the thinnest non-folding iPhone and required glass manufacturing with very thin materials and tight tolerances. Apple would therefore not need to build a new production line, but rather adapt an existing one – according to the same source, this will reduce manufacturing costs.
The iPhone has featured a glass back since the iPhone 8, but the new aspect would be the edge: the glass is expected to wrap around the sides. A Bloomberg report from August mentions a narrow metal band in the center of the casing, which is expected to remain, and refers to an even more glass-heavy preliminary version that Apple reportedly discarded early in the development process.
A day earlier, an analyst note from Jefferies had declared the glass model scrapped due to insufficient production yield. Bloomberg contradicted this, stating that the project was still on schedule for September 2027.
The heat problem and its compensation
The material strategy is far from settled. In May, it was reported that Apple was researching an improved titanium alloy for future Pro models – whereupon a second leaker dampened expectations: aluminum would be the only option for the foreseeable future because the heat from the AI processing had to be dissipated. According to Apple, the iPhone 18 Pro again uses an aluminum unibody design, which supports this view.
This is precisely where the problem lies. Glass conducts heat orders of magnitude less efficiently than aluminum. If the thermal stress caused by on-device AI was indeed the decisive argument for metal, Apple must compensate for this with a glass casing elsewhere – through an internal metal structure, vapor chamber cooling, or more energy-efficient components. A more efficient display would have been one such lever, but according to the latest report, this option is no longer available.
The cooling side now provides two pieces of evidence for this. Apple is said to have increased its orders for vapor chamber components, with a portion of the volume reportedly reserved for the anniversary model. At the beginning of August, it was added that the vapor chamber in the anniversary model would be larger. This completes the line of reasoning: glass on the outside, more active heat dissipation on the inside.
The timeframe also puts these reports into perspective. Apple's iPhone production typically only reaches full capacity a few weeks before the sales launch; for the iPhone 17, test production began in June, and mass production in August. Between the conversion of a factory and the first finished device, there are still around ten months and several decision points for a model slated for fall 2027.
Building height: A contradiction that no one can resolve
In early August, the Weibo account Fixed Focus Digital mentioned three features of the anniversary model: the iPhone Air's thickness, a return to glass construction, and an enlarged vapor chamber. Two of these fit with the existing picture. The thickness does not.
The iPhone Air measures 5.6 millimeters. For a Pro model with a large battery, multiple cameras, and an enlarged vapor chamber, that would be an extremely tight specification – each of these components requires space, and the vapor chamber was only recently introduced as a solution to the heat problems of the glass casing. Having both at the same time makes little sense from a design perspective.
Furthermore, there's the initial situation. Before its market launch, a leak suggested that the iPhone 18 Pro would be noticeably thicker; in fact, according to Apple, it measures exactly the same as the iPhone 17 Pro at 8.75 millimeters. Going from the 17 Pro to 5.6 millimeters would be more than three millimeters less – for a device that is also supposed to accommodate a larger vapor chamber. It remains conceivable that the stated thickness refers to the perceived size of the iPhone Air and not the actual dimensions.
A second source has not yet been found. In the same week, another Weibo account, Digital Chat Station, did post about the anniversary model, but with information about the display sizes and not the thickness. Both leakers regularly report from the supply chain, but their track record is mixed: Fixed Focus Digital predicted that the iPhone 18 Pro would be about two millimeters thicker, but it remained at 8.75 millimeters. Therefore, there remains only one source for the thickness.
At the end of August, the same source followed up: The manufacturing change had significantly improved both heat dissipation and the panel height. This statement directly addresses the design objection – thinner and thermally superior at the same time – but doesn't resolve it. It lacks any reference point, and it remains the same source that made the initial claim. Furthermore, according to the latest report, the thinner panel is also no longer available, at least for the time being, due to the COE (Cost of Energy) change.
Front camera: The cutout is likely to remain
The front of the phone would only be completely unobstructed if the front camera and Face ID sensors disappeared under the display. Apple has been working on this for years, and in November 2025, Digital Chat Station reported an under-display front camera for 2027. Technically, this is where the real bottleneck lies: 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 the quality measurably deteriorates at this point.
Since then, the picture has changed. In May, the same account mentioned a four-sided curved design for the Pro series being tested, still with a hole. A version without a hole was said to be in development for an anniversary model. Then, in September, the account itself mentioned a hole-punch design, dubbed a small Dynamic Island, for early displays of the iPhone 20 Pro and Pro Max.
On November 3rd, the most direct answer to date followed. In response to the question of whether the iPhone 20 Pro Max would have a hole-free display or a Dynamic Island, the account simply wrote, Has a hole. The brief answer leaves open the question of the cutout's size and the location of Face ID. It hasn't been independently confirmed; it comes from the same source as the previous reports.
Other voices echo this sentiment. Ross Young predicted in January that the Dynamic Island would be smaller but last longer than expected. Fixed Focus Digital wrote in March that the technology beneath the display wasn't progressing as smoothly as hoped and anticipated a smaller Dynamic Island.
Based on current information, I expect a cutout to remain, either as a small Dynamic Island or a single camera hole. A completely unobstructed front will then be postponed to a later generation. I consider it less likely that Apple will manage to integrate the selfie camera under the panel before launch.
Haptic solid-state buttons
A second detail fits strategically with the glass design: Apple is reportedly planning to introduce haptic solid-state buttons without any mechanical components. Instead of traditional push buttons, pressure-sensitive surfaces would be used, providing haptic feedback to simulate a press. This would affect all controls – side button, volume buttons, action button, and camera controls.
The advantage isn't just aesthetic. Every additional physical cutout would undermine the idea of a continuous glass casing. Apple had already considered this concept in 2023 for the iPhone 15 Pro as part of Project Bongo and again targeted it for the iPhone 16 Pro – both plans were scrapped in late development stages.
Apple may have finally achieved its goal on the third attempt. According to Instant Digital, the buttons passed practical tests in May: with gloves, with wet hands, in extreme temperatures, and even in a case. The power supply is remarkable – an extremely low-power microprocessor is said to keep the buttons functional even when the iPhone is switched off or the battery is empty.
Chip: A21 Pro, second generation, built on a 2nm process
Inside, the A21 Pro chip, internally codenamed Naxos, is expected to power the device. It is rumored to be based on TSMC's second-generation 2nm process, while the iPhone 18 Pro uses the first 2nm generation. As usual, TSMC will handle the manufacturing, while simultaneously working on 1.4nm structures – available no earlier than 2028.
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 generation, Apple also shifts the proportion of calculations that run locally rather than in the cloud.
Modem: Apple's own solution across the entire lineup
For a long time, the cellular modems in iPhones came from Qualcomm. Now Apple has its own chips: The C1 debuted in the iPhone 16e, the C1X followed in the iPhone Air, and the C2 has been in the iPhone 18 Pro models since September 2026. However, this applies to the Pro Max everywhere except in the USA, where Apple continues to use a Qualcomm modem.
According to a Bloomberg report, all iPhones will run on Apple modems by 2027. The lower energy consumption is more than just a convenience: in a casing that offers less internal space and less efficient heat dissipation due to its curved glass design, every watt saved counts double.
Camera: New HDR sensor with film camera level
A sensor upgrade may be on the horizon for the camera. Reports indicate the company is working on its own HDR sensor with a theoretical dynamic range of up to 20 stops – more than many cinema cameras achieve. This would allow for the simultaneous capture of details in very bright and very dark areas of the image.
The variable aperture, which Apple introduced with the iPhone 18 Pro, is expected to be further refined in the anniversary Pro model. It operates in four steps from ƒ/1.48 to ƒ/4.0, mechanically controlling the amount of light and depth of field, and automatically adapting to lighting conditions. A 200MP telephoto camera, which has been discussed in parallel, is unlikely to arrive in 2027 – current reports point to 2028 or later.
Naming question: Is Apple skipping a number again?
Apple has already demonstrated how to stage an anniversary model 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 symbolized the anniversary and was one of the strongest marketing tools of the launch.
The internal codename Glasswing will certainly not be the marketing name – Apple has never incorporated codenames into the final product name. After the iPhone 18, the iPhone 19 would follow numerically, a rather underwhelming name for a design leap of this magnitude. Three scenarios are realistic.
| Scenario | What it speaks for | What speaks against it |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 20 | The most direct parallel to the jump in 2017, conveying the anniversary cleanly and stylistically consistent with the Arabic numerals since 2019 | Less symbolic than a Roman version |
| iPhone XX | The most emotionally appealing solution, visually directly reminiscent of the iPhone X | Since the iPhone XR/XS, Roman numerals are no longer used; "XX" can be interpreted ambiguously in some markets |
| iPhone Pro / Pro Max | This aligns with the analyst's assessment, which only refers to Pro models; it follows the logic of the MacBook Pro | The most radical option completely abandons numbering in the pro segment |
An iPhone 19 as a classic continuation of the model line is considered unlikely. Apple's tradition shows that anniversary moments are deliberately staged – a simple incremental numbering would contradict this strategy. The decision is expected to be made 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 development cycle, but outside the traditional September release period.
It's not expected that Apple will abandon its established rhythm. Even for its 10th anniversary, the company strictly adhered to the September date and presented the iPhone X together with the iPhone 8 as usual, without an earlier summer announcement.
Price: Premium boost expected
There's no concrete price indication yet, but the latest round of speculation provides a starting point. Before the iPhone 18 Pro launched, price increases of up to $300 were circulating; in fact, Apple raised the entry-level price by $100 in the US and by €150 in Germany to €1,449. A year later, the Pro model with its anniversary design would be the natural opportunity to reposition the premium segment in terms of price.
The combination of a liquid glass display, solid-state buttons, new casing material, and A21 chip justifies a significantly higher starting price from Apple's perspective. I expect the iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max lines to remain, but both will be noticeably more expensive than their predecessors.
Why the casing material remains the crucial factor
Of all the components of the anniversary model, the glass casing is the least secure – and simultaneously the one on which the others depend. Four-sided curvature, solid-state buttons, and a nearly bezel-less front only make sense as a package; if Apple abandons the glass in favor of aluminum, the rest loses its design rationale.
The signals so far point in both directions. In favor of glass are the August report, the retooled production facility, the codename, the increased orders for steam chambers, and the cost argument: adapting an existing line instead of building a new one saves both time and money. Against it are the Jefferies analyst note, Apple's renewed use of aluminum for the iPhone 18 Pro, and heat dissipation, which is becoming increasingly important with the growing AI workload. The leak regarding the build height exacerbates this conflict instead of resolving it.
All details relating to the casing material are therefore subject to the same caveat. Until Apple finalizes a variant with its suppliers, any detailed information on this remains a snapshot in time.
Who is the iPhone 20 intended for?
The anniversary iPhone will be more than just a typical annual update, as it combines several fundamental hardware innovations into a single generation. For users of an iPhone 15 Pro or older, the wait should be worthwhile: the leaps in display, camera sensor, chip, and design add up to one of the biggest generational changes in iPhone history. Those currently considering buying an iPhone 18 Pro, however, will have to wait around ten months.
One point to consider is durability. A casing where the glass wraps around the edges offers significantly less metal to cushion a fall onto a corner – precisely where smartphones most often break. An anniversary model is meant to be a statement, and a largely glass body would undoubtedly make that statement. Whether you'd want to use such a device without a case afterward is another question entirely.
There are roughly ten months until the unveiling in September 2027. During this time, plans can shift, technical hurdles can arise, and individual decisions can be reversed – the case material and the question of the cutout are the best examples of this. However, Apple's strategy of recent years shows that design leaps are only implemented once they are technically mature.
Would you wait around ten months for the anniversary model if it ended up with a small notch in the display – or is the completely unobstructed front the real reason for you to skip the iPhone 18 Pro? Let us know your decision in the comments.
