According to reports, Apple plans to redesign the 20th iPhone series of the 20th iPhone series to be launched in September 2027.
Bloomberg reports that a special professional model contains more glass elements to commemorate the iPhone’s two decades of survival. Apple is also expected to launch a foldable iPhone next to the redesigned Pro, but it's unclear whether this is the first or second iteration. (Currently, the report points to the 2026 foldable iPhone launch.) Apple remains the only major smartphone manufacturer without foldable devices.
A 20th anniversary-focused strategy could also help revitalize iPhone sales, which have been stagnant in recent months and could be affected under the Trump administration’s new 125% tariff on China, where most components and iPhones are imported.
Meanwhile, the upcoming iPhone 17 is now expected to be more similar to the previous Pro model. The iPhone Pro lineup seems to be largely the same since the 2020 iPhone 12 debut, when Apple introduced 5G compatibility, with changes mostly limited to color updates over time and rising to titanium on the iPhone 15 Pro.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
Watch the following: Rumors are not the iOS 19 feature of AI
Bloomberg said that while the iPhone 17 Pro is still similar to the 16 Pro, it may have a redesigned rear camera layout. The camera module is expected to maintain its three-lens setup, but is placed on a new panel that spans the entire width of the device.
Apple is also expected to introduce a significantly thinner model, said to be known as iPhone 17 air.
Why will the iPhone in the 20s be named?
It is unclear how Apple will name its 20th anniversary iPhone, as the 2027 version will technically align with the iPhone 19 tag. As Apple tried these names, the pace of numbers changed over time, such as the launch of the iPhone 4 in 2011 instead of calling it the iPhone 5 (the iPhone 5 was launched in 2012).
The company has previously adjusted naming conventions at milestones, such as skipping the iPhone 9 and unveiling the iPhone X logo to mark its 10th anniversary – so, in keeping with the Roman numerals, the 20th annual model may be called the iPhone XX.
The risks of waiting for iPhone redesign
Dipanjan Chatterjee, vice president and chief analyst at market research firm Forrester, called the redesign a “double-edged sword” considering that the iPhone's design has not undergone any meaningful changes for some time.
“The bold redesign on your anniversary model sounds like a brilliant idea until you realize it's still two years old, and Apple has been working to trigger the upgrade super loop that will bring the stagnation the company has experienced recently to recover from iPhone growth.”
Chatterjee acknowledged that Apple Intelligence still hasn't fulfilled its promise to convert older iPhone owners to later compatible hardware.
“The temptation to wait for a longer 2027 design could further expand the upgrade cycle,” he added.
Another risk, he said, is that some customers may now buy cheap iPhone 16e and wait a few years to buy the premium phone they really want.
