Apple is preparing a return model called iPhone 20 for the 20th anniversary of the iPhone. The model is expected in September 2027 at the earliest, but leaks have been piling up for months. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, development has progressed well; However, most of these plans may be postponed.
Apple celebrated the 10th anniversary of the iPhone in 2017 with the iPhone X and made the biggest design change in the history of the product. Moreover, rumors say that another similar renewal is coming. As a matter of fact, the picture that emerges for the iPhone 20 is a phone that resembles a single piece of glass plate.
iPhone 20 design and screen
It is claimed that the screen glass of the iPhone 20 will curve down from four edges. Thus, it is claimed that the metal frame will not be visible in normal use. Apple is said to be working with Samsung on a screen with "four curved edges of equal depth" for this effect.
It was rumored that Apple was planning a brighter and thinner OLED panel than Samsung for the anniversary model. It was also said that this panel would use Color Filter on Encapsulation (COE) technology. But UBI Research doesn't expect COE to come to Apple's Pro iPhones until 2029. Therefore, it is doubtful whether the technology will be included in the 2027 model.
It is stated that Apple continues to test the hardware that will remove the last visible notch on the front. Under-screen Face ID and camera are part of this. The company has already used the under-display camera on the inner display of the iPhone Duo, but reviewers criticized the image quality. It is unclear whether the improved version will arrive in 2027.
Buttons that do not have physical movement and provide tactile feedback are also on the agenda. Apple is said to be testing these solutions that will replace the Side, Volume, Action and Camera Control buttons. The buttons can even be embedded directly into the body.
Chip, modem and camera in iPhone 20
Apple is developing its own modems that aim to surpass Qualcomm in speed and AI functions. The model that is expected to achieve this is the third generation modem that will be released in 2027. In addition, C1 and C1X are used in iPhone 16e and iPhone Air. C2 currently powers the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. The only model to use a Qualcomm modem is the iPhone 18 Pro Max in the US.
There is also a change in the camera. It is said that Apple has developed its own layered image sensor instead of the Sony sensors it has used so far. Moreover, it is claimed that a working prototype is ready. It is stated that LOFIC technology will be used in the sensor. This technology will allow each pixel to store different amounts of light. Thus, the dynamic range can be up to 20 stops.
On the processor side, a second generation 2 nanometer chip is expected. Following the A20 Pro in this year's iPhone 18 Pro models, it looks like the A21 Pro will power the turn-of-the-year models.
Battery, memory and dimensions for iPhone 20
Apple is reportedly researching a new battery technology with silicon anode. The silicon anode can store more lithium ions per gram. Therefore, the usage time may be extended without increasing the battery size.
On the memory side, vertically stacked DRAM technology, that is, mobile high bandwidth memory, is being evaluated. At the same time, the aim is to increase memory bandwidth and improve artificial intelligence performance on the device.
The two models are expected to be slightly larger than the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Digital Chat Station suggests that the screens will be 6.41 and 6.96 inches. In marketing, the larger model is likely to be referred to as the 7-inch panel.
But launch is more than a year away, and Apple's plans are constantly changing behind closed doors. Such ambitious features can be postponed for a year or two. For example, under-screen Face ID has been said to be "two years away" for about five years. The expected release time is autumn 2027.
