📱 The futuristic 20th anniversary iPhone will reportedly have an all-glass design
🏭 A new rumor says Apple will use a similar manufacturing process to the iPhone Air
🧑🔧 It’ll mill the glass in a similar way to keep everything as seamless as possible
🔥 Apple has reportedly achieved better heat dissipation and performance, too
📆 The new iPhone is expected to arrive next year
Apple has been working towards a futuristic, all-glass iPhone for many years, and it sounds like it’s on track to arrive for the device’s 20th anniversary in 2027. Rumors point to a phone that’ll resemble a slab of pure glass, and a new leak suggests it could take after the iPhone Air in a few key ways.
On Weibo, leaker Fixed Focus Digital says that the 20th anniversary iPhone uses a similar glass assembly during the manufacturing process as the iPhone Air. Apple touted the glass structure it uses on the Air as a single sheet that’s molded to accommodate the camera plateau. According to the leaker, it’s a similar situation on the newer model, save for some modifications like “rounded materials” to help save on costs.
The leaker also says that Apple has been able to improve the thickness of the glass to keep the device as slim as possible. The iPhone Air is just 5.6mm thick, so if the 20th anniversary iPhone is any thinner, it’ll certainly be one of the most impressive smartphones ever built.
In addition, heat dissipation has also reportedly been improved. One of the key areas of the iPhone Air is its inability to stay cool after running heavy tasks on it. The new iPhone could fix those problems with the new glass, although it’s unclear exactly how Apple’s been able to achieve this.
The 20th anniversary iPhone is expected to come with a design that looks like a single sheet of glass, potentially reminiscent of the iPhone Air and iPhone Fold. There won’t be any cutouts or bezels of any kind, according to rumors, with Face ID fading away behind the screen for the first time. The buttons could be haptic instead of tactile, there’ll be upgrades in the camera and processing departments, and it could use new battery technology to ensure it lasts all day.
Apple is expected to ship the new iPhone in September of 2027, just in time for the 20th anniversary of the first iPhone.
Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.