Apple is reportedly working on its 20th Anniversary iPhone, which is expected to launch in 2027. The device is said to feature a truly bezel-less screen with curved edges and many other upgrades. The iPhone may receive a complete identity refresh, as we saw with the iPhone X in 2017.
New reports have surfaced online that suggest Apple is in talks with Samsung and LG to produce next-gen flexible OLED panels. However, the Cupertino-based tech giant could face significant challenges in this ambitious project, considering that it is shifting its manufacturing outside of China. This could potentially delay the release of the 20th Anniversary iPhone.
Apple’s 20th Anniversary iPhone: The Biggest Upgrade Ever
Mark Gurman from Bloomberg recently reported that the 20th Anniversary iPhone will be a major shake-up. The device is said to use glass extensively and undergo a design overhaul. However, he did not share any further details.
A new report from Korean publication ET News suggests that Apple is working on a display that bends from all four sides, similar to a quad-curved design. The curvature is expected to be aggressive for a bezel-less appearance. The report also mentions that Apple may finally introduce an under-display fingerprint scanner and try to hide the FaceID below the display for a notch-less screen.
Apple is also expected to shift to a solid-state battery. This battery technology uses solid electrolytes instead of gel-based elements in the battery pack, which significantly improves the charge retention properties, increasing the battery life. However, this battery technology has not yet arrived on smartphones.
If these reports are true, then the 20th Anniversary iPhone could spark a much-awaited revolution in smartphone design. When iPhone X (the 10th anniversary iPhone) was introduced in 2017, almost every Android OEM rushed to introduce notched displays and face unlock. Apple is clearly the trendsetter of the technology world.
Apple’s Challenges in iPhone Production
Apple is currently stuck between the tariff cold war between the United States and China. But even before this, the company has been slowly shifting its iPhone production to India, way back since 2017. Today, India produces almost 20% of the global iPhone supply.
However, Apple only has an assembly line in India. The actual components and internal spares, such as the processor, display panels, battery packs, etc., are still made in China. The company is reportedly struggling in its Chinese supply chain, which is not a good sign.
If we recall the iPhone X, Apple worked with Samsung to introduce the first smartphone display without a bottom chin. The technology was so advanced that even Samsung itself could not bring it to its Galaxy smartphones for two years.
According to the leaked reports, the 20th Anniversary iPhone will require huge technological advancements, especially in the display. Hence, Apple will have to rely on China for longer to make it possible, as no other country has the resources to develop these spares from scratch. India can assemble, but can’t manufacture.
Even when Apple introduced the Titanium frame on the iPhone 15 Pro, shipments were delayed for almost four weeks as the company was not able to keep up with the demand. It even faced a strike in its Foxconn factories in China, which has been a persistent issue.
Let’s simplify the picture. On one hand, Apple is rapidly moving its iPhone assembly lineup from China to India. On the flipside, only China has the technology to develop next-gen display, curved glass, and batteries. If the company does not find a viable solution, the 20th Anniversary iPhone might get delayed further.
Apple is known for its perfection, and it delays product releases if the company is not fully ready with something. The latest example is its in-house modem. Apple started working on its proprietary 5G modem back in 2019 by acquiring Intel’s modem division. But the project took six years, and the Apple C1 Modem came out in 2025 on the iPhone 16e. That’s Apple.
At the moment, Apple has not even acknowledged the 20th Anniversary iPhone, as the company likes to be secretive. But it’s also true that Apple takes milestones very seriously, and it will definitely try to do something special in 2027.
