Apple is reportedly making significant early preparations for its 20th-anniversary iPhone, which is anticipated to be released in 2027. This milestone model is shaping up to be a major turning point for the device, potentially delivering the most radical redesign since the iPhone X fundamentally altered its appearance a decade after the original launched.
One of the most dramatic transformations rumored for the 2027 iPhone involves its display and front design. Reports indicate Apple is pushing towards a true full-screen experience by developing under-display camera (UDC) technology and potentially under-display Face ID for certain models. This would allow for the complete elimination of bezels and the Dynamic Island cutout, resulting in an uninterrupted display.
Combined with speculation about a four-sided curved OLED panel, sometimes referred to as a “mostly glass curved iPhone” or internally as “glasswing,” the device’s front could look drastically different, finally breaking the mold set by the iPhone X. Achieving commercial viability for UDC requires overcoming significant technical hurdles related to light transmission and image quality, which Apple is reportedly addressing with new materials and lens designs.
Beyond the visual changes, core display technology is also set for an upgrade. Apple is reportedly considering a move to a 16-nanometer FinFET process for the OLED driver display chip (DDI), a significant leap from the current 28-nanometer planar process. This shift in transistor architecture aims to improve both performance and power efficiency, a growing necessity given the increasing demands of on-device AI processing like Apple Intelligence.
Powering these advanced features requires corresponding battery innovation. A notable prospect discussed is the potential use of a pure silicon anode battery. By replacing the traditional graphite with 100% silicon as the cathode material, the energy density could be significantly increased, allowing the battery cell to hold considerably more power within the same or smaller volume. Such a development would be crucial for supporting the power-hungry components expected in a modern flagship and would also offer the secondary benefit of improved battery endurance, meaning the battery might hold its full capacity for longer before significant deterioration.
To further support the performance needs of advanced features, particularly the expected increase in on-device AI capabilities, Apple is reportedly exploring options like mobile HBM (High Bandwidth Memory), also known as LLW DRAM. This technology involves stacking low-power DRAM chips to achieve much higher bandwidth, which would provide a significant boost to the iPhone’s performance when working with its GPU and AI processing units.
While some of these details come from sources like ET News, which has a stronger track record on supply chain insights than precise product specifications, the overall picture painted aligns with Apple’s history of marking major anniversaries with significant hardware advancements. The iPhone X for the 10th anniversary serves as a clear precedent for a transformative 20-year model.
(via ET News)
