According to reports, Apple is preparing a major makeover for the iPhone lineup’s 20th anniversary edition, which is anticipated to be released in September 2027.
According to a Bloomberg story, a special Pro model with additional glass components is being developed for the anniversary to commemorate the iPhone’s 20 years of existence. Alongside the updated Pro, Apple is also anticipated to release a foldable iPhone, however it’s unclear whether this would be the first or second version. (Reports presently indicate that a foldable iPhone will be released in 2026.) The only significant smartphone maker lacking a foldable device is still Apple.
This 20th anniversary-focused approach may also help boost iPhone sales, which have been slow lately and might be hurt by the Trump administration’s new 125% tariff on China, the country from which the majority of iPhone components and devices are imported.
Meanwhile, it is currently anticipated that the next iPhone 17 would look more like earlier Pro versions. With the exception of color tweaks and the iPhone 15 Pro’s transition from metal to titanium, the iPhone Pro range has remained virtually unchanged since the release of the iPhone 12 in 2020, when Apple first offered 5G capability.
A request for comment from Apple was not answered.
Check Out These Rumored iOS 19 Features That Aren’t AI
5:07
According to Bloomberg, the iPhone 17 Pro will probably include a revised back camera configuration even though it will still look like the 16 Pro. It is anticipated that the camera module would remain in its three-lens configuration but be mounted on a new screen with a single-tone finish that covers the whole width of the device.
Additionally, a somewhat slimmer model—rumored to be the iPhone 17 Air—is anticipated to be released by Apple.
What will be the name of the iPhone’s twentieth anniversary?
Since the 2027 release would technically correspond to an iPhone 19 label, it is uncertain what Apple would title their 20th anniversary iPhone. As Apple experimented with the names, the numbers’ cadence changed over time. For example, the iPhone 4S was released in 2011 instead of being called the iPhone 5 (the iPhone 5 was released in 2012).
In line with Roman numerals, the 20th-anniversary model may be dubbed the iPhone XX. This is because the business has changed its naming practices for significant events in the past, such as omitting the iPhone 9 and releasing the iPhone X to commemorate its 10th anniversary.
The danger of delaying iPhone redesign
A redesign is a “double-edged sword,” according to Dipanjan Chatterjee, vice president and lead analyst at market research company Forrester, given that the iPhone’s design hasn’t seen any significant changes in a long time.
“A bold redesign for its anniversary model sounds like a wonderful idea until you realize that it is still two years away and Apple has struggled to trigger the upgrade supercycle that will revive the stagnant iPhone growth the company has experienced lately,” he said.
Chatterjee said that Apple Intelligence had yet to deliver on its promise to upgrade older iPhone customers to suitable devices.
“The temptation to wait even longer for a vastly improved 2027 design is likely to further extend the upgrade cycle,” he said.
He said that there is a chance that some consumers may choose the less expensive iPhone 16E now and wait a few years to get the high-end phone they really want.