Macworld
The original iPhone was released on June 29, 2007. So next year, it will turn 20 years old, and rumors point to Apple commemorating the event with a special 20th-anniversary model.
It’s not expected to launch on June 29 (it will probably be in September, as usual), and it may not be a special one-off product, but rather the next major evolution of the iPhone, much like the iPhone X in 2017. But either way, the big two-oh is supposed to bring something really special.
Here’s what we’ve gleaned from the rumors and leaks so far.
20th Anniversary iPhone: What to expect- Major redesign: Apple is expected to mark the iPhone’s 20th anniversary in 2027 with a near-all-screen design, curved glass, ultra-thin bezels, and two Pro-sized models.
- Display upgrades: Face ID could move under the display, leaving only a small punch-hole front camera for a cleaner look.
- Key hardware improvements: Rumored upgrades include a new Sony camera sensor, solid-state haptic buttons, and a silicon-anode battery for better battery life.
- More powerful internals: The phone is expected to feature the A21 Pro chip, C3 modem, and improved wireless connectivity for better performance and efficiency.
- Premium positioning: Expected to launch in September 2027, with a starting price of around $1,299 or more.
- iPhone XX is a possible name
- iPhone 19 could arrive alongside the special edition
Steve Jobs demonstrating the first iPhone in January 2007.
Apple
They say history doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme. We may be looking at that sort of thing in 2027.
In 2017, for the iPhone’s tenth anniversary, Apple skipped over the “iPhone 9” entirely and introduced the iPhone X, which brought with it a set of new design elements and technologies that would go on to define the iPhone for the next decade: a full OLED display with no Home button, Face ID, and wireless charging. It also cost more than any iPhone had before, starting at $999.
For the 20th anniversary, Apple may simply call it iPhone 20. It should be noted that we might also get an iPhone 19 at the same event, just as Apple introduced the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus at the same event as the iPhone X. Since we’re getting an iPhone 18 this year, iPhone 19 might join iPhone 20 (or maybe iPhone XX, as some media outlets have dubbed it) as a cheaper option next year.
When will the 20th Anniversary iPhone launch?- Likely release date: September 2027
There has been no hard information on the 20th Anniversary iPhone’s release date yet, but it is generally expected to launch in the typical time frame for iPhones: an announcement in September and an on-sale in late September or October 2027.
An August 2026 report from a financial analyst at Jefferies claimed that Apple has scrapped the 20th Anniversary iPhone entirely over costs. We haven’t heard this from other sources yet, and it was quickly debunked by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Financial analysts don’t always have the best track record of leaking future Apple product plans, but it’s worth noting.
How much will the 20th Anniversary iPhone cost?- High starting price of $1,299 or more
It’s too early to predict what the RAM crunch will do to next year’s prices, but we expect the 20th Anniversary iPhone to be expensive. With more advanced technology than most “Pro” iPhones, the starting price will likely be at least $1,299, if not more.
What will the 20th Anniversary iPhone look like?- Two sizes similar to the current Pro hones
- Edge-to-edge displays
- Curved glass design
One of the defining visual characteristics of the 20th Anniversary iPhone will reportedly be its all-display look. Leaks have described the handset as having “a quad-curved screen design,” with the idea being that the phone will appear to be one big display. Bezels could be minimized to the point where you don’t even see them, and the glass will curve down on all four sides. It’s been reported that Apple could adopt its Liquid Glass branding as well.
Reports suggest that Apple is preparing two models, roughly equivalent to the current Pro and Pro Max iPhones at around 6.3 and 6.9 inches, which would be the largest iPhone Apple has ever made.
Will the 20th Anniversary iPhone have a Dynamic Island?- Under-display Face ID expected
- Hole-punch camera for selfie cam rumored
Mahmoud Itani / Foundry
One of the persistent rumors over the past several years is that Apple will continue to put more front camera system components under the display, until it’s all display with no cutouts at all.
That may be several years away, but at least some of the components might be able to go behind the OLED display. One rumor claims that Apple will use a “spliced micro-transparent glass,” which will allow it to put the IR emitter under the display, leaving just the regular camera and maybe the IR receiving camera in a cutout region. If the IR camera can effectively go under the display as well, the 20th Anniversary iPhone will have just a single round punch-hole camera in front but retain Face ID.
What camera will the 20th Anniversary iPhone have?- Customize LOFIC image sensor
- Triple-camera array with telephoto lens
- 200MP camera possible
Stephan Wiesend
According to a Korean-language blog post by a leaker who goes by yeux1122 (who has been accurate in the past with some supply-chain scoops), Apple is working together with Sony on a custom image sensor that uses LOFIC (Lateral Integral Overflow Capacitor) technology.
Phone makers Honor, Xiaomi, and Huawei all use sensors with LOFIC technology in their flagship phones now. It’s a technique that allows sensors to capture low-light or dark areas of an image with less noise, along with brighter areas of an image, without increasing ISO sensitivity. In other words, it gives the camera more dynamic range with less noise.
Otherwise, we expect the 20th Anniversary iPhone to have a triple-camera system like the current Pro models, with wide, ultrawide, and telephoto cameras. It’s likely that the cameras will have significant upgrades, however, with a possible 200MP lens.
Will the 20th Anniversary iPhone have physical buttons?- Current buttons will reportedly remain
- Solid-state with haptics could replace physical buttons
Mahmoud Itani / Foundry
On all current MacBooks (other than MacBook Neo), the trackpad doesn’t actually move. Instead, it produces the sensation of being clicked using precise haptic feedback. It’s very effective and reduces the possibility of breakage due to fewer moving parts.
The 20th Anniversary iPhone is supposed to replace the power, volume, Action, and Camera Control buttons with parts that operate in a similar way. These buttons wouldn’t move at all. Rather, they will be integrated into the frame itself, but will have touch capacitors and haptics to give them the feel of a actual button.
Weibo account Instant Digital (with a mixed track record) says extensive testing is ongoing to make sure these new solid-state haptic buttons work well with gloves, cases, wet hands, and so on.
If Apple can pull this off and they feel as good as real buttons, it will be an important part of the durability of the new iPhone. With the display glass curving down on all edges, the edge area of the frame itself will be very thin, and further cutouts to accommodate buttons would make it less likey to resist bending.
What specs will the 20th Anniversary iPhone have?- New Apple chips—A21, C3, and more
- 12GB or 16GB of RAM
We’ve got the A20 Pro processor coming in this year’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra. Next year we expect the A21, using a refined 2nm manufacturing process and further improving performance.
Apple’s C-series modems are on a roughly yearly cadence, or so it is claimed. We should see the C2 this year, but it may not be used in the flagship iPhones in the U.S. Next year, it is said, the C3 will be ready for release, and could appear in every iPhone, globally. Each successive C-series modem should improve wireless speed and reliability while improving battery life.
Apple has another networking chip, the N1, which provides Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 capabilities. It’s already in a few products and should show up in the 2026 iPhones as well. Will Apple be ready with an N2 in time for the 20th Anniversary iPhone? It wouldn’t be strictly necessary from a features perspective, but an updated chip might improve wireless performance while reducing power use.
Based on what we expect from the iPhone 18 Pro, we assume the 20th Anniversary iPhone will have at least 12GB of RAM and possibly as much as 16GB, depending on what AI capabilities Apple builds into it.
Will the 20th Anniversary iPhone have longer battery life?- New battery technology
A report from ETNews in 2025 said that Apple is looking to use a battery with a pure silicon anode in the 20th Anniversary iPhone.
This change in battery chemistry increases energy density, so you can pack more charge into a smaller volume. Both the OnePlus 15 and the Oppo Find X9 Pro use this battery technology today to deliver batteries with a capacity around 7,300 mAh. That’s about 40% more capacity than you’ll find in an iPhone 17 Pro Max.