This mock-up shows what a more glass-forward iPhone might look like.Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Adobe Stock
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Apple finally revealed the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at its Sept. 9 “Surprise and Shine” event, alongside the foldable iPhone Duo.
But believe it or not, there are already credible reports and leaks floating around about a potential 20th anniversary “iPhone 20” arriving in fall 2027. If the rumor mill is correct, Apple will skip the iPhone 19 entirely, and this wouldn’t be the first time Apple has gotten creative with numbering. The iPhone 20 would commemorate the 20th anniversary of the original model, which was released on June 29, 2007.
To mark 20 years of the iPhone, Apple has reportedly been prepping a major redesign that uses curved glass elements and potentially even a waterfall display.
If you’re on the fence about upgrading to the iPhone 18 Pro, then you may want some idea of what next year’s iPhone might look like. So, here are the latest iPhone 20 rumors.
iPhone 20: When will it come out?
First things first, the release date. Apple always launches its flagship iPhone models in September, and there’s currently no reason to think that will change soon.
In other words, it’s widely expected that this phone will be announced in early September 2027, followed a week or two later with an official launch. (For reference, the iPhone 18 Pro was announced on Sept. 9 and launches Sept. 18.) The 20th anniversary iPhone is also the perfect opportunity for Apple to do some weird, fun stuff with its signature device.
iPhone 20: What will it look like?
This is the big point of interest regarding the iPhone 20, and most of what we know dates back to leaks from last year. In 2025, there were multiple credible reports that the iPhone 20 model would undergo a major redesign that uses significantly more glass than the typical phone.
Bloomberg and The Information both reported in May of last year that it would have an all-glass, edge-to-edge display. Specifically, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the source of more Apple scoops than anyone else on the planet, predicted the iPhone 20 would be a “mostly glass, curved iPhone without any cutouts in the display,” and feature “curved glass edges all around.” That means curved glass wrapping around the edges of the device, and perhaps more importantly, a seeming lack of a notch or Dynamic Island cutout for the selfie camera.
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Other reports point to curves around the four corners of the phone. Also in 2025, Korean outlet ETNews reported the 20th anniversary iPhone will have four-sided bending for a bezel-less full-screen experience.
However, other prominent leakers have thrown cold water on rumors of a radical, waterfall-edge display. On X, leaker Ice Universe said that despite the rumors, the iPhone 20 will nothave a true curved display.
The iPhone can't be designed in curved screen. Don't believe such rumors.
Apple has explicitly informed its suppliers that it will not adopt curved screens, At most, it may feature a "visual curve" effect—similar to the edges of an Apple Watch display, where the panel remains…— Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) August 25, 2025
And in 2026, Ice Universe speculated that “a true quad-curved display is unlikely” due to manufacturing challenges, suggesting Apple will opt for a “visual quad-curved” design.
Despite recent reports in both domestic and international media that the iconic 20th-anniversary iPhone will feature a quad-curved design, I personally believe that a true quad-curved display is unlikely. Apple wouldn't base a commemorative device requiring large-scale production… pic.twitter.com/5TdmBYJERv
— Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) January 3, 2026
So, instead of a waterfall display with curved glass on the iPhone, we might get something more like the iPhone Air, with rounder corners and sides, plus a visual effect around the edges similar to what you see on the Apple Watch.
We’ve seen wrap-around and waterfall displays on other devices like TVs, but a more sculptural, curved glass iPhone would definitely stand out in the mobile market.
Unfortunately, Apple is keeping a very tight lid on the iPhone 20 so far. The most recent update comes from Gurman at Bloomberg (of course), who reported in June that there will be two iPhone 20 models launched in 2027, likely in the Pro category, and that they will measure in at around 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches.
Do the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo tell us anything about the iPhone 20?
With the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple reduced the size of the Dynamic Island, and the iPhone Duo utilizes an under-display FaceTime camera that doesn’t waste any pixels. It will be interesting to see which of these elements are carried forward into the iPhone 20.
Apple has clearly embraced curved glass and refracting light in its new Liquid Glass design language, so it would make sense if the iPhone evolved to match accordingly.
iPhone 20: New buttons!
Lastly, for now, leaker Instant Digital posted on Weibo late last year that Apple is working on “solid-state” (in other words, non-moving and non-mechanical) buttons for the iPhone 20. The unique feature here would be haptic feedback for power, volume control, and camera control. I could see this being somewhat controversial, like when Apple got rid of the home button, but we’ll have to wait and see.
As soon as we learn more about the iPhone 19/iPhone 20, we’ll be sure to update this post. If you want to be the first to know about new tech, science, and digital culture news, sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.
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Alex Perry is a tech reporter at Mashable who primarily covers video games and consumer tech. Alex has spent most of the last decade reviewing games, smartphones, headphones, and laptops, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He is also a Pisces, a cat lover, and a Kansas City sports fan. Alex can be found on Bluesky at yelix.bsky.social.
Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men’s product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull-riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl.
Tim studied print journalism at the University of Southern California. He currently splits his time between Brooklyn, NY and Charleston, SC. He’s currently working on his second novel, a science-fiction book.
