Why isn't now a good time to buy a new iPhone?
Although Apple consistently releases new iPhone models every year, many sources suggest that users may want to wait a little longer, as the company's 20th-anniversary flagship is rumored to bring about the biggest redesign since the iPhone X.
Over the years, Apple's iPhone upgrade strategy has primarily focused on improving performance, camera, and battery life, while the overall design hasn't changed drastically.
However, that could soon change as more and more information suggests Apple is developing a completely new iPhone model to mark the 20th anniversary of the first iPhone's release in 2007.
According to reports from Bloomberg and The Information, the special iPhone model expected to launch in September 2027 could be Apple's biggest design leap in nearly a decade.
Apple is reportedly looking to create a truly "full-screen" iPhone.
One of the most notable details is that Apple is reportedly pursuing an almost entirely glass design, with a curved display that extends to all four edges of the device.
According to Bloomberg, the 20th-anniversary iPhone may feature "seamlessly curved glass edges that seamlessly blend into the screen on all four sides," giving the impression that the entire front and sides are almost a single piece of glass.
Meanwhile, The Information reports that some current prototypes have almost no screen bezels at all. The device only retains a very thin metal strip in the middle of the body to integrate the physical buttons.
If this information turns out to be true, it would be a revolutionary change similar to when Apple introduced the iPhone X with its notch display and the removal of the physical Home button.
Apple wants to completely eliminate the screen notch.
Beyond just ultra-thin bezels, Apple is also reportedly aiming to create an iPhone without any notches or "holes" on the screen.
This means the selfie camera and Face ID facial recognition system could be placed entirely under the display panel.
This is a technology that many Android manufacturers have been experimenting with in recent years; however, the quality of under-display cameras is still not truly stable. Apple, on the other hand, tends to only implement new technologies when they reach a sufficiently high level of refinement for a good user experience.
Analysts believe the biggest challenge lies not in the selfie camera but in the Face ID system. This technology uses multiple infrared sensors and dot projectors to scan faces in 3D, so placing the entire sensor array under the screen is far more complex than with a conventional camera.
While it remains unclear whether Apple can perfect this technology by 2027, the company's ambition suggests it's aiming for a generation of iPhones with a truly "full-screen" design.
Why might this be the most anticipated iPhone in years?
In recent years, many users have felt that the pace of iPhone innovation has slowed down. Newer iPhone models are still more powerful and take better photos, but the differences between generations are no longer as significant as before.
That's why the 20th anniversary iPhone model is attracting so much attention. If Apple can actually create a nearly bezel-less design, with no screen notch and a full glass body, this could be the biggest leap forward for the iPhone since 2017.
This is especially important to consider for users with long upgrade cycles. According to numerous market surveys, the majority of customers currently keep their iPhones for between two and four years before upgrading to a new device.
For this group of users, continuing to use their current device for a while longer while waiting for a groundbreaking new generation of iPhones might be a more sensible option than making small upgrades every year.
However, that doesn't mean users should completely "freeze" their shopping plans. If you're using an iPhone model that's too old, has significantly degraded battery life, or no longer meets your work needs, upgrading soon is still necessary.
Before the 20th anniversary iPhone, Apple still had many noteworthy products.
Before the 20th anniversary iPhone was released, Apple was believed to still have a number of major products in development.
Sources indicate that the company may launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone model around September 2026.
Apple could then release the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and the second generation of the iPhone Air line in early 2027.
This indicates that Apple is entering a major transformation phase for its iPhone product line, where the company is not only focusing on performance but also aims to redefine smartphone design in the new era of AI and mobile computing.
