The iPhone 20 is still years away, but the early rumors already point to a device that could reset expectations for what a smartphone looks like, how it feels in the hand, and how it responds to touch. Instead of another incremental upgrade, reports suggest Apple is lining up its twentieth‑anniversary iPhone as a showcase for radical hardware and deeply integrated intelligence that could make today’s flagships feel dated overnight.
If those reports hold, the iPhone 20 will not just be a faster rectangle with thinner bezels, it will be a fundamentally different kind of product that blends curved glass, invisible cameras, button‑free controls, and next‑generation displays into a single seamless object. I see the emerging picture as a roadmap for where the entire smartphone market is heading, with Apple once again trying to define the high end of the category rather than simply competing inside it.
The anniversary iPhone as Apple’s next big swing
Apple is treating the twentieth‑anniversary iPhone as a statement device, and the rumors around the iPhone 20 reflect that ambition. Multiple reports describe an “anniversary” model that is meant to stand apart from every generation before it, with a design that looks less like a traditional phone and more like a single piece of interactive glass. That framing matters, because it suggests Apple is not just iterating on the iPhone 18 or a hypothetical iPhone 19, it is planning a clean break that can justify skipping familiar design language and even familiar naming conventions.
Early chatter around this anniversary model describes a device informally called iPhone 20 that could deliver Apple’s most futuristic design yet, an all‑screen phone with curved glass edges on every side that is meant to feel like a continuous surface rather than a slab with a frame, a concept that is already being linked to a potential Informally named iPhone 20. That positioning lines up with broader reporting that Apple’s iPhone lineup is set to undergo a lot of big changes in the years ahead, with a three‑year roadmap that builds toward this anniversary device as the culmination of a sweeping redesign, a shift that is already being mapped out in detail in coverage of Apple’s iPhone lineup.
Four‑sided curves and a truly borderless screen
The most striking rumor around the iPhone 20 is its move to four‑sided curves and a borderless display, a combination that would make the front of the device appear almost entirely uninterrupted. Instead of the current mix of flat glass and slightly rounded edges, reports describe a panel that curves on every side, with the image itself flowing into those curves so the frame visually disappears. That would be a major break from the flat‑sided aesthetic that has defined recent Pro models and would instantly make older designs look dated.
Reporting on Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone points to a design with four‑sided curves and a borderless screen that could redefine smartphone design by eliminating visible bezels and pushing the display right to the edge of the chassis, a concept that is already being detailed in coverage of four-sided curves. Complementary reports describe Apple planning a bold twentieth‑anniversary iPhone with a seamless, bezel‑free display and under‑display cameras that would make the front appear entirely uninterrupted, reinforcing the idea that the company wants a truly all‑screen look rather than a compromise with cutouts or notches, a vision that is echoed in descriptions of a truly all-screen display.
From iPhone 17 Air to iPhone 20: the redesign timeline
To understand how Apple gets to that kind of radical hardware, it helps to look at the stepping stones already rumored for the next few years. The company is said to be prioritizing a new, slimmed‑down chassis in the nearer term, with models like an iPhone 17 Air laying the groundwork for lighter, thinner devices that still deliver flagship performance. That shift toward an “Air” style body hints at a broader strategy: make the hardware feel almost weightless before transforming its shape entirely.
Reporting on Apple’s roadmap describes a sequence that runs from iPhone 17 Air through to iPhone 20, with the company focusing first on a slimmed down chassis and then on more aggressive design changes, a progression that is laid out in detail in a Redesign Timeline. Alongside that, there are already rumors about an iPhone 19 that will not be released in a traditional way, with speculation that Apple could use that generation to experiment with new materials or even treat it as a bridge to a more powerful Apple Intelligence powerhouse labeled A20, a concept that surfaces in reporting on A20 an Apple Intelligence powerhouse. Taken together, those pieces suggest the iPhone 20 will arrive at the end of a carefully staged redesign rather than as a sudden, isolated leap.
Curved glass, COE displays and the race for better screens
The display technology behind the iPhone 20 could be just as transformative as its shape. Rumors point to Apple adopting brighter, thinner panels that can bend more aggressively without sacrificing image quality, which is essential if the company wants curves on all four sides without visible distortion. That likely means tapping into the same advanced OLED processes that rivals are already using on their most expensive devices, then pushing them further to meet Apple’s industrial design goals.
One of the more detailed leaks around this shift describes a twentieth‑anniversary iPhone tipped to use brighter, thinner panels based on a process called COE, while noting that Meanwhile, Samsung is expected to expand COE to its Galaxy S26 Ultra in 2026, a sign that the same underlying technology is becoming a battleground for high‑end phones, a dynamic that is spelled out in a discussion of Meanwhile Samsung COE Galaxy Ultra. Separate reporting on what the 2027 curved glass iPhone could look like quotes a recent Bloomberg report that describes curved glass edges all around and a display that appears to spill over those edges, reinforcing the idea that Apple is working toward a design where the screen and the body are effectively the same object, a vision captured in coverage that is explicitly Quoting Bloomberg.
Under‑display cameras, Face ID and the invisible front
Achieving a truly uninterrupted front surface requires more than curved glass, it demands that Apple hide the sensors and cameras that currently live in notches and cutouts. The company has already been laying the groundwork for that shift, with reports that it is working on under‑display Face ID technology that behaves like the current system but lives beneath the screen. If that work pays off, the iPhone 20 could be the first model where users look at a completely clean panel while Face ID quietly authenticates through the pixels.
Coverage of Apple’s near‑term plans for iPhone 18 and iPhone 17 describes Reports from The Information that Apple is developing under‑display Face ID tech that works more or less the same as Face ID today but is integrated under the screen instead of requiring a cutout, a key step toward the invisible front that the anniversary device seems to target, a detail that is laid out in reporting on Reports The Information Apple Face ID Face. That dovetails with descriptions of the twentieth‑anniversary iPhone using under‑display cameras so the front appears entirely uninterrupted, a move that would finally deliver the full‑screen iPhone that has been teased for years and is already being discussed in relation to the But Pro Max rumors around iPhone 18 Pro Max and its own push toward a full screen iPhone.
No bezels, no notch, and maybe no buttons at all
The iPhone 20 rumors do not stop at the display. Several reports suggest Apple is preparing to strip away almost every visible interruption on the hardware, including the physical buttons that have been part of the iPhone since 2007. Moving to solid‑state or touch‑sensitive controls embedded in the frame would fit neatly with a design that already hides its cameras and sensors, and it would give Apple more freedom to seal the device for durability and water resistance.
One detailed report describes Apple’s Next Big Move as an iPhone 20 that reportedly could ditch every physical button, replacing them with alternative controls that would require users to adjust to a new style of interaction, a shift that is framed as Apple’s Next Big Move Reportedly Could Ditch Every Physical Button. Parallel reporting on Apple working on a new iPhone with a fresh design describes a device that could launch with no bezels and no notch, while also preparing a meaningful camera upgrade for the iPhone 18 Pro models that includes a mechanical iris enabling variable aperture control, a level of optical sophistication that would pair naturally with a future all‑screen, button‑free flagship, a trajectory that is already being traced in coverage of Apple Pro.
Apple Intelligence and the iPhone 20 as an AI powerhouse
Design is only half the story. The iPhone 20 is also being framed as a showcase for Apple Intelligence, with expectations that the device will ship with silicon and sensors tuned specifically for on‑device AI. That would allow Apple to push more of its assistant features, photo processing, and real‑time translation directly onto the phone, reducing reliance on the cloud and making the experience feel faster and more private.
Reporting on the iPhone 20 suggests that if Apple times it correctly, the twentieth‑anniversary iPhone could be a striking design with an incredible UI to match, and that its internal hardware would greatly benefit Apple Intelligence processing, effectively turning it into a flagship for the company’s AI ambitions, a role that is highlighted in analysis of how If Apple positions the device. That vision lines up with separate reporting that describes an A20 chip as an Apple Intelligence powerhouse designed to enable more powerful Apple Intelligence features, reinforcing the idea that the iPhone 20 will not just look different, it will feel different in daily use because of the way it handles tasks like image editing, Siri requests, and even third‑party apps that tap into those AI capabilities, a future that is already being teased in coverage of more powerful Apple Intelligence features.
Foldables, skipped numbers and a lineup in flux
The iPhone 20 rumors are unfolding alongside a broader shake‑up of Apple’s phone lineup, including work on foldable models and speculation that the company might skip certain numbers entirely. That context matters, because it shows Apple is willing to rethink not just the hardware but the structure of the range itself, potentially leaving room for an anniversary device that sits above or apart from the usual cadence of iPhone releases. It also hints at a future where a foldable iPhone and a curved‑glass iPhone 20 coexist as different expressions of the same design philosophy.
One report on Apple’s plans for upcoming iPhones notes that the company is reportedly working on 7 new iPhones and that the design of the iPhone Fold is incredibly complex, with Apple being particularly secretive about it, a level of secrecy that underscores how central the Fold Apple project is to its future lineup. Separate reporting on Apple’s foldable iPhone describes a device that will have four cameras and Touch ID and frames it as part of Apple’s big plan to shake up its lineup for three years straight, culminating in a model that will have curved glass edges all around, a description that mirrors the design language being used for the anniversary iPhone and is laid out in detail in coverage of how Apple is approaching its foldable. Against that backdrop, a massive leak has already claimed that Apple might skip “iPhone 19” entirely and go straight to “iPhone 20,” a move that would underline how central this anniversary device is to the company’s strategy, a possibility that is raised in a Massive Apple Leaks report on the company’s long‑term plans.
Why some fans may skip entire generations to wait
The scale of the rumored changes is already reshaping how some buyers think about their upgrade cycles. Instead of debating whether to move from iPhone 17 to iPhone 18, there is a growing chorus of voices arguing that it might be smarter to hold out for the anniversary model, especially if it delivers the full package of curved glass, borderless display, hidden cameras, and Apple Intelligence‑first hardware. That kind of anticipation can be risky for Apple in the short term, but it also shows how powerful the iPhone 20 narrative has become even before the device is official.
One widely shared video on upcoming models explicitly tells viewers that You may want to SKIP the Release Date of the iPhone 17 in 2025 and even the iPhone 18 in 2026 and wait for the Release of a future model that is informally linked to the iPhone 20 XX, framing the anniversary device as the one worth saving for, a sentiment captured in the argument that You SKIP Release Date of the Release. At the same time, more traditional buyers are still weighing near‑term upgrades, comparing iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 based on features like under‑display Face ID and camera improvements, a debate that is laid out in coverage of whether to wait for the next Apple phone and how Apple is sequencing those upgrades. That split underscores how the iPhone 20 rumors are already influencing purchasing decisions years in advance.
What this means for the smartphone market
If the iPhone 20 delivers even a fraction of what is being rumored, it will force the rest of the smartphone industry to respond. A device with four‑sided curves, a borderless screen, no visible cameras, and no physical buttons would instantly reset design expectations, much as the original iPhone did when it replaced hardware keyboards with a capacitive touchscreen. Competitors like Samsung, which is already pushing COE displays into models like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, will not stand still, but Apple’s ability to integrate hardware, software, and services around a single flagship still gives it a unique platform to shape user expectations.
That influence is already visible in the way suppliers and rivals are positioning their own products, from Samsung’s COE‑equipped Galaxy S26 Ultra to the broader ecosystem of accessories and apps that are being built around all‑screen devices, a trend that is reflected in the discussion of how COE is spreading. For Apple, the iPhone 20 also represents a chance to redefine what a “product” even looks like in the smartphone era, turning a familiar rectangle into something closer to a continuous, responsive surface, a direction that is already hinted at in the way current listings describe the iPhone as a flagship product category rather than a single device. If the rumors are accurate, the iPhone 20 will not just be another entry in that catalog, it will be the model that forces everyone, from case makers to app developers, to rethink what a smartphone can be.
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