Apple is reportedly planning a significant redesign for the 20th-anniversary edition of its iPhone lineup, expected to launch in September 2027.
A special Pro model featuring more glass elements to mark the iPhone’s two decades of existence is in development for the anniversary, says a Bloomberg report. Apple is also expected to launch a foldable iPhone alongside the redesigned Pro, but it’s unclear if this would be the first or second iteration. (Reports currently point to a 2026 launch for a foldable iPhone.) Apple remains the only major smartphone manufacturer without a foldable device.
This 20th anniversary-focused strategy could also help reinvigorate iPhone sales, which have been sluggish in recent months and may suffer under the Trump administration’s new 125% tariff on China, where most components and iPhones are imported from.
In the meantime, the upcoming iPhone 17 is now expected to more closely resemble previous Pro models. The iPhone Pro lineup has looked largely the same since the iPhone 12’s debut in 2020, when Apple introduced 5G compatibility, with changes over time mostly limited to color updates and a metal switch to titanium on the iPhone 15 Pro.
Apple didn’t respond to a request for comment.
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Bloomberg said that although the iPhone 17 Pro will still resemble the 16 Pro, it will likely feature a redesigned rear camera layout. The camera module is expected to maintain its three-lens setup but be placed on a new panel that spans the entire width of the device with a single-tone finish.
Apple is also expected to introduce a notably thinner model, rumored to be called the iPhone 17 Air.
What will the 20th-anniversary iPhone be named?
It’s unclear how Apple will name its 20th-anniversary iPhone, given that the 2027 release would technically fall in line with an iPhone 19 label. The cadence of the numbers shifted over time as Apple experimented with the names, such as launching the iPhone 4S in 2011, rather than calling it the iPhone 5 (the iPhone 5 launched in 2012).
The company has previously adjusted naming conventions for milestone moments, such as skipping the iPhone 9 and unveiling the iPhone X to mark its 10th anniversary — so in keeping with Roman numerals, the 20th-anniversary model could potentially be called the iPhone XX.
The risk in waiting to redesign the iPhone
Dipanjan Chatterjee, vice president and principal analyst at market research firm Forrester, called a redesign a “double-edged sword,” considering the iPhone’s design hasn’t undergone any meaningful change for awhile.
“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 acknowledged Apple Intelligence still hasn’t fulfilled its promise of converting older iPhone owners into later compatible hardware.
“The temptation to wait even longer for a vastly improved 2027 design is likely to further extend the upgrade cycle,” he added.
The other risk, he said, is that some customers might go for the cheaper iPhone 16E now and wait a few years to buy the premium phone they really want.
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