Abstract:
As a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, Apple plans to launch a new flagship model called "iPhone 20" in the fall of 2027. The latest news from the supply chain and industry shows that this device will usher in the most radical and significant appearance and architecture reconstruction since Apple launched the 10th anniversary iPhone
In terms of industrial design, the core breakthrough of the new phone is to completely move towards a minimalist form of "one piece of seamless glass", which is regarded as the most extreme expression of Apple's long-term vision of former design director Jony Ive. According to multiple sources, the “iPhone 20” will bid farewell to the traditional tough right-angled middle frame and adopt a micro-arc design of a constant-depth four-curved glass body. Different from the early radical "waterfall screen" of the Android camp, Apple tends to create a shallower and softer slightly curved transition, and cooperates with the special internal optical refraction and light guide structure to jointly weaken or even hide the front bezel at the physical curvature and visual levels, creating a visual effect of boundless wrapping.
In terms of screens and front-facing components, Apple’s long-term goal is to achieve a front-facing “zero opening” form. Supply chain sources pointed out that Apple is developing a solution to completely hide Face ID and even the front camera under the screen, including testing micro-transparent glass window technology that can allow infrared light to penetrate without damage. However, panel analysis organizations and industry observers also pointed out that due to process maturity, if the fully under-screen camera fails to meet stringent mass production imaging standards in 2027, the model may retain a very small single punch hole or a further reduced smart island form. In terms of screen specifications, the model is expected to be available in two versions: 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch. Thanks to the near-borderless extreme compression, the actual display field of view of the large-size version is expected to be close to 7 inches, and is expected to be named "Liquid Glass" display.
In order to match the seamless glass aesthetic, Apple’s previously shelved “Project Bongo” solid-state button project has also been revealed to be fully revived on this model. Traditional physical mechanical switches such as the power button, volume buttons, operation buttons, and camera control keys on the fuselage will be completely removed and replaced by pressure-sensitive solid-state buttons and a Taptic Engine tactile feedback system integrated into the frame of the fuselage. This design completely eliminates mechanical opening wear, and internal tests show that the solid-state interaction can respond stably in extreme scenarios such as wearing gloves, operating with wet hands, and severe cold and high temperatures.
In terms of core performance and underlying hardware, the "iPhone 20" is expected to be equipped with the A21 series processor built on TSMC's second-generation 2-nanometer advanced process, and is expected to introduce a high-bandwidth memory (HBM) architecture for large end-side AI models to the mobile phone for the first time. In addition, the new phone may debut Apple’s self-developed high-performance 5G baseband chip and pure silicon anode high-energy-density battery, which can significantly improve battery life while controlling the thickness of the fuselage. According to the established product plan, this highly anticipated 20th anniversary innovative model is expected to be officially unveiled in the fall of 2027, when it will most likely appear on the same stage as Apple's second-generation folding screen iPhone.
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