Apple set to launch anniversary iPhone - 6 expected features
What iPhone might look like for 20th anniversary of company (photo: MacRumors)
In 2017, for iPhone's 10th anniversary, Apple released iPhone X with Face ID and minimal bezels. Now the company is preparing new changes for the smartphone's 20th anniversary, although the release is still some time away, and rumors are already circulating.
MacRumors shares all major speculations about what iPhone 2027 might be like.
Bezel-free design with curved display
Apple's long-term goal is to create an iPhone that looks like a single piece of glass with no notches or bezels. Rumors suggest this could become a reality by 2027.
The company is reportedly working on a display that curves along all four edges of the device, creating an infinite screen effect.
Such a design will require careful handling and may limit case options, but Apple is already improving iPhone durability – current models use Ceramic Shield 2, resistant to scratches and damage.
For comparison, Samsung released smartphones with curved edges for several years, but never fully bezel-less devices. With the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung abandoned the curves.
If Apple implements a curved display, the iPhone will look like a flat piece of glass.
Camera and Face ID under the display
To achieve a glass design, Apple will need to remove the Dynamic Island and the front camera notch. Rumors are conflicting: some sources say under-display Face ID will not appear before 2027, while others consider it possible.
If all technologies cannot fit under the display, a compromise is possible: Face ID under the screen with a small front camera cutout.
OLED display improvements
The anniversary iPhone is expected to get a brighter and thinner OLED display. Rumors suggest Apple is using Samsung panels with COE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) technology. This allows removing the polarizing film and applying the color filter directly on the display layer, reducing thickness, increasing brightness, and lowering power consumption.
For curved edges, Apple plans to add a crater-shaped light diffusion layer for even illumination across the display.
Camera enhancements
Apple may implement a custom HDR sensor for a wider dynamic range in the Fusion camera, capturing up to 20 stops of dynamic range – professional cinema-level quality. Improvements like variable aperture are also expected.
Apple's own modem
iPhone 16e and iPhone Air used C1 and C1X modems, but Apple plans to fully switch to in-house modems by 2027. They will be more energy-efficient, faster, and better integrated with iPhone AI features.
New A-Series chip
The anniversary iPhone will likely get the second-generation 2-nanometer chip, A21. iPhone 18 models will receive A20, and iPhone 20 will have A21. Chip manufacturer TSMC is already developing a 1.4-nanometer node, but it will not be ready before 2028.
No iPhone 19
After iPhone 18 in 2026, Apple will likely skip iPhone 19 and go straight to iPhone 20 (or iPhone XX) for the 20th anniversary of the series, similar to how iPhone X was released in 2017.
Release timing
The first iPhone was unveiled in January 2007 and released in June of the same year. The 20th anniversary of the series falls on June 29, 2027. However, Apple traditionally announces new models in September, so the anniversary iPhone premiere is expected in September 2027.
