Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone is shaping up to be the most significant hardware redesign the company has attempted in a decade. Expected to launch in September 2027 alongside a second-generation foldable iPhone, the iPhone 20 is reportedly set to abandon the flat-sided design language the lineup has carried since the iPhone 12, in favor of a curved, mostly-glass form factor that wraps around all four edges. Everything from the buttons to the display bezels to the camera cutouts is reportedly being reconsidered from scratch.
TL;DR
- Expected launch: September 2027
- Two display sizes: approximately 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch (larger model reportedly testing at ~6.96 inches, potentially marketed as 7-inch)
- Processor: 2-nanometer A21 chip
- Design: quad-curved glass on all four edges, no flat sides
- Display possibly marketed as “Liquid Glass Display”
- Haptic replacements for physical Side, Volume, Action, and Camera Control buttons reportedly in testing
- Under-display Face ID and selfie camera reportedly the goal, though the technology may not be ready in time
- Launching alongside second-generation foldable iPhone
iPhone 20 release date
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 20 in September 2027, following the company’s established fall iPhone cadence. The device has been in active development for some time, with Bloomberg reporting that Apple was already “ramping up” work on the 20th anniversary model as of mid-2026, and iPhone 20 manufacturing preparations are said to be well underway. The naming is worth a moment: Apple skipped “iPhone 9” and jumped to the iPhone X in 2017 for the device’s 10th anniversary, and the same pattern is expected here, with the 2027 model skipping “iPhone 19” and releasing as either iPhone 20 or iPhone XX. Neither name has been confirmed, and both currently circulate in rumors as placeholder references.
iPhone 20 price
Apple has not announced pricing, and no credible leak has produced firm numbers. Given the scope of what is reportedly in testing, including new display technology, haptic button systems, under-display sensors, and a new battery architecture, expect premium positioning at minimum. Whether Apple prices the iPhone 20 as a special anniversary tier above the standard Pro lineup or folds it into the existing structure remains genuinely unknown at this point.
iPhone 20 design
The design is where this phone departs most sharply from every iPhone since 2017. The iPhone 20 is reportedly built around a curved-glass iPhone 20 concept: a glass back and a quad-curved front panel that wraps gently around all four edges of the device. Bloomberg described it as a mostly glass, curved iPhone without any cutouts in the display, with curved glass returning after years of flat-sided iPhones. The result is expected to be the closest Apple has come to producing an iPhone that looks like one continuous piece of glass.
The curves are described as “micro-curves” rather than the aggressive roll seen on some Android devices: Apple is reportedly seeking a very shallow, equal-depth curve on all four sides. The practical benefits would include more natural edge swipes, reduced content distortion, and a softer feel in the hand. One unverified mock-up has depicted the display bezel at just 1.1mm, compared to approximately 1.44mm on the iPhone 17 Pro, though that figure remains unconfirmed.
On the button front, Apple is said to be testing haptic replacements for the Side, Volume, Action, and Camera Control buttons, integrated directly into the device’s frame with no physical movement when pressed but retaining tactile feedback. Apple used a similar approach on the iPhone 7’s Home button, so the concept is not entirely new, though applying it to all four external controls at once would be a more thorough implementation than anything the company has shipped before.
Display
The iPhone 20 is expected to come in two sizes: approximately 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches. As of July 21, 2026, MacRumors reported that Apple is prototyping a 7-inch display prototype measuring roughly 6.96 inches, which would likely be marketed as a 7-inch panel if it reaches production. That would make the larger iPhone 20 the biggest standard iPhone Apple has ever shipped.
Apple is reportedly evaluating branding the panel as a “Liquid Glass Display,” tying directly into the Liquid Glass software design language introduced in recent iOS releases. The technology under consideration is an equal-depth quad-curved panel with very shallow micro-curves, designed to minimize the visual distortion that typically accompanies curved displays while still delivering that wrapped, smooth look on all four edges.
Chip and performance
The iPhone 20 is expected to ship with Apple’s A21 chip, built on a 2-nanometer process. Apple’s current A19 family uses a 3nm process, so this represents a real node reduction with the expected gains in efficiency and raw performance. Apple is also reportedly evaluating vertically stacked DRAM technology to improve memory bandwidth, which would primarily benefit on-device AI workloads. Neither the specific memory configuration nor final clock speeds have been reported.
Camera
The single most unresolved question about the iPhone 20’s front design is whether the selfie camera and Face ID system will move under the display entirely. Apple reportedly wants a front surface with no cutouts at all, but display analyst Ross Young has stated that the under-display selfie camera technology is unlikely to be fully ready for 2027. The current expectation is that Apple will either retain a small hole-punch cutout or use a reduced version of the Dynamic Island expected on iPhone 18 Pro models. Rear camera details have not been reported in meaningful detail yet.
Battery
Apple is reportedly exploring a new battery technology for the iPhone 20 that uses a silicon anode instead of the graphite anode in current iPhone batteries. Silicon anodes can store more lithium ions per gram, which means Apple could potentially deliver longer battery life without increasing the physical size of the battery pack. That matters given how little room Apple typically leaves for battery volume inside iPhone enclosures, and it would be a welcome improvement if the curved design reduces the internal market available.
Software
The iPhone 20 is expected to launch with iOS 21, assuming Apple maintains its current versioning cadence. No iPhone 20-specific software features have been detailed, though the “Liquid Glass Display” branding reported in hardware rumors suggests Apple may deepen the connection between its software design language and the physical display properties. Given the expected under-display camera work, Apple would also need to refine how iOS handles the camera interface and Face ID enrollment for a sensor positioned beneath the panel rather than behind a cutout.
| Feature | iPhone 17 Pro (current) | iPhone 20 (expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 6.3-inch | ~6.3-inch and ~6.9-inch (up to ~6.96-inch) |
| Display type | OLED, flat | Quad-curved OLED, “Liquid Glass Display” (reported) |
| Bezel width | ~1.44mm | ~1.1mm (unverified) |
| Chip | A19 Pro (3nm) | A21 (2nm, expected) |
| Design | Flat sides, titanium frame | Curved glass, all-glass body (reported) |
| Buttons | Physical Side, Volume, Action, Camera Control | Haptic solid-state buttons (reportedly in testing) |
| Front camera/Face ID | Dynamic Island cutout | Under-display (goal, technology readiness uncertain) |
| Battery technology | Graphite anode | Silicon anode (reportedly in evaluation) |
| Memory | Unknown | Vertically stacked DRAM (reportedly evaluating) |
| Price | Starting at $999 (Pro) | Unknown |
Frequently asked questions
When is the iPhone 20 coming out?
The iPhone 20 is expected to launch in September 2027, following Apple’s standard fall iPhone release schedule.
What chip will the iPhone 20 use?
The iPhone 20 is expected to use the A21 chip, built on a 2-nanometer process, which would be a node improvement over the A19 series in current iPhone models.
Will the iPhone 20 have a fully bezel-less display?
Apple is reportedly targeting an under-display camera and Face ID system to eliminate all front cutouts, but display analysts have said the technology may not be ready for 2027, making some form of small cutout or reduced Dynamic Island more likely.
Will the iPhone 20 have physical buttons?
Apple is reportedly testing haptic solid-state replacements for all four external buttons, which would have no physical movement but retain tactile feedback, though.
What sizes will the iPhone 20 come in?
The iPhone 20 is expected in approximately 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch sizes, with the larger model reportedly being tested at up to 6.96 inches, which Apple could market as a 7-inch display.
Should you wait for the iPhone 20?
If you are using an iPhone 15 or earlier, the iPhone 17 lineup available right now offers real improvements and there is no reason to sit on ageing hardware for 14 more months. If you are already on an iPhone 16 or 17 and your device is in good shape, the iPhone 20 is the most compelling case for waiting that has existed in years: this is not an iterative spec bump but a ground-up redesign, and for anyone planning to keep their next phone for four or five years, holding out until fall 2027 makes sense. With the iPhone loyalty rate already running high, Apple will need the iPhone 20 to deliver on most of what is being reported. The caveat is that several of the most compelling features, particularly the under-display camera and haptic buttons, are still in testing and not guaranteed to ship as described.
