Apple plans another iPhone X style redesign for the iPhone 20

AppleInsider

A new report claims that Apple is planning to mark the 20th anniversary of the iPhone with a significant redesign, but perhaps not as dramatically different as it did for the iPhone X in 2007.

Apple may release the iPhone fold as part of its iPhone 20th anniversary range

While it's rumored that iOS 19 will feature a dramatic redesign, Apple's next iPhone is expected to physically resemble the current iPhone 16 range -- except for the rear cameras. Now a new report from Bloomberg claims that Apple is gearing up for a significant iPhone redesign for the models released in 2027.

"[The] the company is preparing a major shake-up for the iPhone's 20-year anniversary," it says, "including a foldable version and a bold new Pro model that makes more extensive use of glass."

For the 10th anniversary of the iPhone in 2017, Apple launched the iPhone X which most noticeably shed the famous home button for an all-glass display. It was the first iPhone to cost more than $1,000, and Tim Cook was correct when he said that it would "set the path for technology for the next decade."

As that decade nears its close, the claim is that Apple is looking to launch a similarly major redesign. It seems unlikely to fundamentally change how people use the iPhone in the way that the iPhone X required users to adapt to a new way of interacting with the device.

But the greater use of glass may fit with current rumors that the iPhone 17 Pro will at least increase how much of the chassis is made of glass. It arguably also fits with how iOS 19 has variously been rumored to introduce a new glass-like design.

That glass iOS rumor, though, is specifically about the iOS 19 release which is due to be announced at WWDC in June 2025. Similarly, the iPhone 17 Pro will be launched in September 2025, not 2027.

It seems implausible that Apple would slowly introduce a new hardware and software design over the course of the iPhone 17, iPhone 18, iPhone 19, and iPhone 20 releases. But there have separately been rumors that Apple is planning an all-glass iPhone for the future.

That said, Apple was also rumored to be planning an all-glass iPhone as far back as 2017 -- the year of the iPhone's 10th anniversary.

The claim about Apple using the 20th anniversary to launch its expected iPhone Fold does fit previous rumors of a release date -- or at least how those release rumors keep being pushed back. Most recently, analyst Jeff Pu claimed that the iPhone fold, and a folding iPad, would be released in 2026.

That backed up certain other rumors. But sources such as analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have been adamant that Apple will release an iPhone fold -- in 2024.

So a delay to 2027 would be unsurprising -- though Apple has been said to be planning a foldable MacBook Pro for then.

If Apple is indeed planning a redesign for the 20th anniversary iPhone, then it will presumably be unveiled in September 2027. Although that would then mean Apple introducing a folding iPhone eight years after Samsung's first Galaxy Fold.



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m68000

The article starts off with a typo saying “as it did for the  X in 2007”.  We all should know iPhone X was made in 2017.   Probably going to keep my iPhone 15 until the 20th anniversary phone comes out.  Maybe we’ll finally have underscreen fingerprint option by then.  Or maybe Apple never will,  lol.

jamescude

Educated guesses from way beyond sell date Gurman? No tbanks.

jfreedle2

M68000 said:

The article starts off with a typo saying “as it did for the  X in 2007”.  We all should know iPhone X was made in 2017.   Probably going to keep my iPhone 15 until the 20th anniversary phone comes out.  Maybe we’ll finally have underscreen fingerprint option by then.  Or maybe Apple never will,  lol.

Not really necessary.

jfreedle2

The folding phone is nothing but hype.

kt123

With all the hype and wishful thinking about the foldable iPhone, no one has ever answered the question of how are you supposed to hold it next to your ear to answer calls on such a device, do you need to fold it closed first before answering the call or hold it open like an iPad mini next to your ear, how awkward would that be? Imagine taking such a call while walking your dog in a park and the look on the faces of others walking by !

nubus

From 2027 smartphones and laptops sold in the EU must offer a user replaceable battery. That is why we're seeing rumors regarding redesigns of mouse, MBP M6, iPads, and iPhone 18 having a new design. Apple changed iPhone completely with 12 (new design) and 14 (entirely new construction for non-Pro). Redesigns could happen with both 18 and 20.

whiskeyapplecider

KT123 said:

With all the hype and wishful thinking about the foldable iPhone, no one has ever answered the question of how are you supposed to hold it next to your ear to answer calls on such a device, do you need to fold it closed first before answering the call or hold it open like an iPad mini next to your ear, how awkward would that be? Imagine taking such a call while walking your dog in a park and the look on the faces of others walking by !

It’s not really rocket science, you simple close the phone just like Samsung has had their foldable phone out for some years now…

9secondkox2

JamesCude said:

Educated guesses from way beyond sell date Gurman? No tbanks.

Gurman is Apple’s Trojan horse. He leaks what they want and provides misinformation when they want. 

tht

"[The] the company is preparing a major shake-up for the iPhone's 20-year anniversary," it says, "including a foldable version and a bold new Pro model that makes more extensive use of glass."

There are things they can do with the iPhone design, but not sure there is anything major left though. I don't think there is any, but who knows.

Saying "major shake-up" is a tabloidization from Gurman. He does that all the time, using overly dramatic words. What he calls major is a "meh" a lot of the time. I do not think the iOS 6 to iOS 7 GUI change was a major-shakeup. I do not think the iPhone 8 to iPhone X design was a major shakeup, or major change. Even Touch ID to Face ID, which changed a lot of the UI design and handling qualities of the phones and tablets was just another gradual UI change.

A major shake-up to me is the Intel to Apple Silicon change. Going from the Obj-C frameworks (AppKit, UIKit) to Swift frameworks (Swift, SwiftUI) is a gigantic change. I think Apple is still suffering from this actually. Forstall to Federighi has been monumental, with some pretty big pluses and minuses.

Don't think this iPhone XX will be a major shakeup. It's a handheld tablet or slate device with touch UI using icons, menus, buttons, etc. It might fold, but you are using it the same way still.

Here is a wishlist, or perhaps a list of features that might be good:

1. Glass that doesn't crack, doesn't scratch. These are opposable properties of glass design. Given that it's been almost 2 decades, obviously a difficult problem. This feature is huge for users, imo. The last great feature that benefits everyone.
2. Glass that doesn't show fingerprints and always smooth to the touch. Fingerprints obscure the display. Would be great if there wasn't any. The amount of time it would save Apple Store employees wiping down the display every hour is probably worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
3. Solar PV everywhere, front and back, and magnetically latched folio cases with Smart Connectors that have solar PV in them. Still a bit into the future. The solar PV can trickle charge, extending runtime. Leave it out in the sun give it a charge. It would be comfort when using your phone in sunlight, where its display is at 100% brightness, and it is getting some juice from the sun as well.
4. LFP batteries. Regular lithium-ion batteries have a cycle of life of about 500 cycles, for about 3 years of typical use before charge capacity goes down to less than 80%. LFP batteries can go 5000 cycles.
5. MVNO with sat-comm service. They can guarantee E2EE, service anywhere in the world (except underground, concrete rooms, and Faraday cages). Governments likely will not allow it.
6. Hand and eye tracking. May have to add another Face ID sensor cluster here. As a UI feature, just interesting.
7. Ceramic case design, like they did with the Apple Watch. They can really amp up color saturation, use pastel colors, etc.
8. Sheet-metal case design. Like with cars, the paint job could be quite interesting. Radio performance kills the idea.

I'm really looking forward to the iPhone 17 Air. Using my iP12 without a case definitely has me thinking thinner is better.

m68000

tht said:

"[The] the company is preparing a major shake-up for the iPhone's 20-year anniversary," it says, "including a foldable version and a bold new Pro model that makes more extensive use of glass."

There are things they can do with the iPhone design, but not sure there is anything major left though. I don't think there is any, but who knows.

Saying "major shake-up" is a tabloidization from Gurman. He does that all the time, using overly dramatic words. What he calls major is a "meh" a lot of the time. I do not think the iOS 6 to iOS 7 GUI change was a major-shakeup. I do not think the iPhone 8 to iPhone X design was a major shakeup, or major change. Even Touch ID to Face ID, which changed a lot of the UI design and handling qualities of the phones and tablets was just another gradual UI change.

A major shake-up to me is the Intel to Apple Silicon change. Going from the Obj-C frameworks (AppKit, UIKit) to Swift frameworks (Swift, SwiftUI) is a gigantic change. I think Apple is still suffering from this actually. Forstall to Federighi has been monumental, with some pretty big pluses and minuses.

Don't think this iPhone XX will be a major shakeup. It's a handheld tablet or slate device with touch UI using icons, menus, buttons, etc. It might fold, but you are using it the same way still.

Here is a wishlist, or perhaps a list of features that might be good:

1. Glass that doesn't crack, doesn't scratch. These are opposable properties of glass design. Given that it's been almost 2 decades, obviously a difficult problem. This feature is huge for users, imo. The last great feature that benefits everyone.
2. Glass that doesn't show fingerprints and always smooth to the touch. Fingerprints obscure the display. Would be great if there wasn't any. The amount of time it would save Apple Store employees wiping down the display every hour is probably worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
3. Solar PV everywhere, front and back, and magnetically latched folio cases with Smart Connectors that have solar PV in them. Still a bit into the future. The solar PV can trickle charge, extending runtime. Leave it out in the sun give it a charge. It would be comfort when using your phone in sunlight, where its display is at 100% brightness, and it is getting some juice from the sun as well.
4. LFP batteries. Regular lithium-ion batteries have a cycle of life of about 500 cycles, for about 3 years of typical use before charge capacity goes down to less than 80%. LFP batteries can go 5000 cycles.
5. MVNO with sat-comm service. They can guarantee E2EE, service anywhere in the world (except underground, concrete rooms, and Faraday cages). Governments likely will not allow it.
6. Hand and eye tracking. May have to add another Face ID sensor cluster here. As a UI feature, just interesting.
7. Ceramic case design, like they did with the Apple Watch. They can really amp up color saturation, use pastel colors, etc.
8. Sheet-metal case design. Like with cars, the paint job could be quite interesting. Radio performance kills the idea.

I'm really looking forward to the iPhone 17 Air. Using my iP12 without a case definitely has me thinking thinner is better.

Even if iPhone XX is not a major shakeup as you say,  it will be highly desired and very likely collectible is what I think.  Already assuming it will offer additional color option never seen before and only available on that phone.

brianus

I've long thought that the endgame was an all-screen device... front, sides, even extending into part of the back (but obviously not all of it since you still need inductive charging, cameras, etc). After a few years the iPads and Macs would get the same no-bezel treatment. 

Apps would float on the front side by default, but could be coded to take advantage of the sides.. otherwise the sides would be reserved for system buttons. They could even have an "invisibility" mode where the entire screen background was a live feed from the back camera.. so we'd finally have something similar to those transparent tablets/phones that sci-fi shows insist we're all supposed to have in the future.

m68000

brianus said:

I've long thought that the endgame was an all-screen device... front, sides, even extending into part of the back (but obviously not all of it since you still need inductive charging, cameras, etc). After a few years the iPads and Macs would get the same no-bezel treatment. 

Apps would float on the front side by default, but could be coded to take advantage of the sides.. otherwise the sides would be reserved for system buttons. They could even have an "invisibility" mode where the entire screen background was a live feed from the back camera.. so we'd finally have something similar to those transparent tablets/phones that sci-fi shows insist we're all supposed to have in the future.

I don’t share that “endgame”.  The idea of sides of screen probably has little use case,  not to mention most people use cases to cover their phone.  

As for back of phone being a screen?   Again, cases are used to protect phone.  Also,  screen on back could be privacy issue.

imat

The iPhone is currently already almost entirely glass. Just not "screen".

radarthekat

KT123 said:

With all the hype and wishful thinking about the foldable iPhone, no one has ever answered the question of how are you supposed to hold it next to your ear to answer calls on such a device, do you need to fold it closed first before answering the call or hold it open like an iPad mini next to your ear, how awkward would that be? Imagine taking such a call while walking your dog in a park and the look on the faces of others walking by !

And then it clamps shut on your ear.  Hilarious.  

radarthekat

tht said:

"[The] the company is preparing a major shake-up for the iPhone's 20-year anniversary," it says, "including a foldable version and a bold new Pro model that makes more extensive use of glass."

There are things they can do with the iPhone design, but not sure there is anything major left though. I don't think there is any, but who knows.

Saying "major shake-up" is a tabloidization from Gurman. He does that all the time, using overly dramatic words. What he calls major is a "meh" a lot of the time. I do not think the iOS 6 to iOS 7 GUI change was a major-shakeup. I do not think the iPhone 8 to iPhone X design was a major shakeup, or major change. Even Touch ID to Face ID, which changed a lot of the UI design and handling qualities of the phones and tablets was just another gradual UI change.

A major shake-up to me is the Intel to Apple Silicon change. Going from the Obj-C frameworks (AppKit, UIKit) to Swift frameworks (Swift, SwiftUI) is a gigantic change. I think Apple is still suffering from this actually. Forstall to Federighi has been monumental, with some pretty big pluses and minuses.

Don't think this iPhone XX will be a major shakeup. It's a handheld tablet or slate device with touch UI using icons, menus, buttons, etc. It might fold, but you are using it the same way still.

Here is a wishlist, or perhaps a list of features that might be good:

1. Glass that doesn't crack, doesn't scratch. These are opposable properties of glass design. Given that it's been almost 2 decades, obviously a difficult problem. This feature is huge for users, imo. The last great feature that benefits everyone.
2. Glass that doesn't show fingerprints and always smooth to the touch. Fingerprints obscure the display. Would be great if there wasn't any. The amount of time it would save Apple Store employees wiping down the display every hour is probably worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
3. Solar PV everywhere, front and back, and magnetically latched folio cases with Smart Connectors that have solar PV in them. Still a bit into the future. The solar PV can trickle charge, extending runtime. Leave it out in the sun give it a charge. It would be comfort when using your phone in sunlight, where its display is at 100% brightness, and it is getting some juice from the sun as well.
4. LFP batteries. Regular lithium-ion batteries have a cycle of life of about 500 cycles, for about 3 years of typical use before charge capacity goes down to less than 80%. LFP batteries can go 5000 cycles.
5. MVNO with sat-comm service. They can guarantee E2EE, service anywhere in the world (except underground, concrete rooms, and Faraday cages). Governments likely will not allow it.
6. Hand and eye tracking. May have to add another Face ID sensor cluster here. As a UI feature, just interesting.
7. Ceramic case design, like they did with the Apple Watch. They can really amp up color saturation, use pastel colors, etc.
8. Sheet-metal case design. Like with cars, the paint job could be quite interesting. Radio performance kills the idea.

I'm really looking forward to the iPhone 17 Air. Using my iP12 without a case definitely has me thinking thinner is better.

Solar might be an expensive add that yields too little added charge in most contexts,  and while you could leave your PV clad iPhone in the sun to charge, I’m pretty sure this is not something Apple would recommend.  Therefore, no PV on the phone in my view. 

LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries have disadvantages such as lower energy density and potential for poor performance in extreme cold.    LFP rarely burn but they are more prone to catastrophic explosions because, when they fail, they off-gas more hydrogen and create an explosive atmosphere more quickly.   Plus they charge more slowly.  

tht

KT123 said:

With all the hype and wishful thinking about the foldable iPhone, no one has ever answered the question of how are you supposed to hold it next to your ear to answer calls on such a device, do you need to fold it closed first before answering the call or hold it open like an iPad mini next to your ear, how awkward would that be? Imagine taking such a call while walking your dog in a park and the look on the faces of others walking by !

More seriously, if you are going to using a folding phone like a phone, it will depend on where the ear speaker and microphone are. If it is typical folding form factor: a larger inner OLED display, and an outer display about half the size, the ear speaker will be on the top edge and the microphone on the bottom edge. Like an iPhone today. So, if you receive a call while using the inner display, you close it and put the outer display to your cheek and the top edge to your ear.

Of course, there are gazillion people who just have their phone conversation on speaker, in public.

It has a lot of these issues that are caused by the folding. If it has Face ID, are there going to be two Face ID sensor clusters? Are there going to be 4 speakers? 2? One of them has to double as the ear speaker, and has to be top edge when closed. That's a fairly off-center location when opened, and would require them to use 4 speakers? Camera bumps are going to look huge if they are like iPhone Pro cameras.

It's not a device for everyone. It's an expensive niche device for technophiles. Expensive is where the profits are, and this niche may be big enough or important enough to warrant a model from Apple. Looks like Apple is getting close to fielding a model.

tht

radarthekat said:

tht said:

"[The] the company is preparing a major shake-up for the iPhone's 20-year anniversary," it says, "including a foldable version and a bold new Pro model that makes more extensive use of glass."

There are things they can do with the iPhone design, but not sure there is anything major left though. I don't think there is any, but who knows.

Saying "major shake-up" is a tabloidization from Gurman. He does that all the time, using overly dramatic words. What he calls major is a "meh" a lot of the time. I do not think the iOS 6 to iOS 7 GUI change was a major-shakeup. I do not think the iPhone 8 to iPhone X design was a major shakeup, or major change. Even Touch ID to Face ID, which changed a lot of the UI design and handling qualities of the phones and tablets was just another gradual UI change.

A major shake-up to me is the Intel to Apple Silicon change. Going from the Obj-C frameworks (AppKit, UIKit) to Swift frameworks (Swift, SwiftUI) is a gigantic change. I think Apple is still suffering from this actually. Forstall to Federighi has been monumental, with some pretty big pluses and minuses.

Don't think this iPhone XX will be a major shakeup. It's a handheld tablet or slate device with touch UI using icons, menus, buttons, etc. It might fold, but you are using it the same way still.

Here is a wishlist, or perhaps a list of features that might be good:

1. Glass that doesn't crack, doesn't scratch. These are opposable properties of glass design. Given that it's been almost 2 decades, obviously a difficult problem. This feature is huge for users, imo. The last great feature that benefits everyone.
2. Glass that doesn't show fingerprints and always smooth to the touch. Fingerprints obscure the display. Would be great if there wasn't any. The amount of time it would save Apple Store employees wiping down the display every hour is probably worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
3. Solar PV everywhere, front and back, and magnetically latched folio cases with Smart Connectors that have solar PV in them. Still a bit into the future. The solar PV can trickle charge, extending runtime. Leave it out in the sun give it a charge. It would be comfort when using your phone in sunlight, where its display is at 100% brightness, and it is getting some juice from the sun as well.
4. LFP batteries. Regular lithium-ion batteries have a cycle of life of about 500 cycles, for about 3 years of typical use before charge capacity goes down to less than 80%. LFP batteries can go 5000 cycles.
5. MVNO with sat-comm service. They can guarantee E2EE, service anywhere in the world (except underground, concrete rooms, and Faraday cages). Governments likely will not allow it.
6. Hand and eye tracking. May have to add another Face ID sensor cluster here. As a UI feature, just interesting.
7. Ceramic case design, like they did with the Apple Watch. They can really amp up color saturation, use pastel colors, etc.
8. Sheet-metal case design. Like with cars, the paint job could be quite interesting. Radio performance kills the idea.

I'm really looking forward to the iPhone 17 Air. Using my iP12 without a case definitely has me thinking thinner is better.

Solar might be an expensive add that yields too little added charge in most contexts,  and while you could leave your PV clad iPhone in the sun to charge, I’m pretty sure this is not something Apple would recommend.  Therefore, no PV on the phone in my view. 

LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries have disadvantages such as lower energy density and potential for poor performance in extreme cold.    LFP rarely burn but they are more prone to catastrophic explosions because, when they fail, they off-gas more hydrogen and create an explosive atmosphere more quickly.   Plus they charge more slowly.  

Probably will have to run the numbers on solar PV one of these days. It's really how many Watt-hours gained over a typical person's usage. Something on order 50% of the battery capacity would make it worth imo. I don't think it will be a problem to leave it out in the sun. It's probably not ok if you are using it in sun, but if it is just charging with everything else in a sleep state, it should be ok. Not ok out in the sun in Death Valley in the summer, yes. Probably ok in 70° day.

Yes, tradeoffs with all battery chemistries. I can understand your point about catastrophic explosions, but I'm having a hard time understanding the relative risk to NMC or Lithium-ion. LFP batteries, tens to hundreds of GWH of it, are deployed in EVs and stationary storage. Its negatives don't seem to be a factor there. Would be interesting to see why the consumer electronics industry have stuck with lithium-ion.