Apple’s upcoming 20th anniversary device is expected to arrive in the fall of 2027, bringing the most substantial physical redesign to the lineup since the iPhone X debuted in 2017 by removing the Home button and introducing an edge-to-edge display, as Macrumors reported. The anticipated 2027 model is set to redefine the design language that has guided Apple’s smartphones for a decade and will likely establish the template for future generations.
The 2027 Anniversary Redesign and the Single Slab of Glass Vision
The central element of this overhaul is an all-glass, curved chassis featuring no cutouts in the display and a return to a curved glass back that wraps around all four edges. According to reporting from 9to5Mac, this build represents the closest execution yet of former design chief Jony Ive’s long-term vision for an iPhone that resembles an unbroken slab of glass.
Display Engineering: Shallow Micro-Curves and Record Screen Sizes
Unlike the aggressive waterfall edges utilized by Samsung on past Galaxy handsets, Apple is reportedly pursuing an equal-depth quad-curved panel with a shallow profile. Leakers suggest the design relies on micro-curves rather than a deep roll onto the sides of the device. This gentler geometry is intended to make edge swipes feel natural, eliminate on-screen content distortion, and provide a softer feel in the hand.
The optical illusion of a borderless frame may extend beyond physical curvature. Leaker Ice Universe indicated that the visual effect could depend on optical refraction, light-guiding structures, and engineering tricks to make the hardware frame recede from view.
Concurrently, supply chain data tracked by 9to5Mac indicates that Apple is testing a super-large display physical diagonal of 6.96 inches, which would be marketed as a 7-inch screen. This prototype edges past the 6.9-inch diagonal found on current Pro Max models, aligning with expected display configurations for the anniversary hardware.
Under-Screen Hurdles and the Debate Over Front Cutouts
The front display configuration remains the most heavily debated aspect of the upcoming release. Apple has explored achieving a completely uninterrupted screen by relocating both the Face ID sensors and the selfie camera beneath the panel. One proposed method involved a spliced micro-transparent glass
window to let infrared sensors pass through.
While Apple continues testing under-screen camera components, current consensus points toward a small hole-punch or a scaled-down version of the Dynamic Island remaining part of the front assembly.
Hardware Materials, Thermal Realities, and Project Bongo Haptics
To support an unbroken glass aesthetic, Apple is also reportedly reviving Project Bongo
—a long-shelved initiative to replace mechanical Side, volume, Action, and Camera Control buttons with solid-state haptic alternatives. These stationary controls would feature zero physical travel when pressed. Testing has reportedly demonstrated functionality with wet hands, gloves, extreme temperatures, and fitted protective cases, while an ultra-low energy microprocessor keeps the haptic system operational even when the handset is powered off or depleted of battery.
Executive Leadership Transition at Apple
These hardware advancements coincide with a major leadership change at the top of the company. Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus is set to take over as Apple CEO starting September 1, 2026, succeeding Tim Cook, who will transition to an executive chairman role, as detailed by Shortlist.
Reflecting on the engineering philosophy driving recent hardware releases such as the 5.6mm-thin iPhone Air, Ternus emphasized the role of vertically integrated hardware development. The inclusion of custom silicon across processing, cellular modems, and short-range wireless chips has allowed the company to maximize power efficiency across ultra-thin form factors. As Ternus prepares to step into the chief executive role this fall, his hardware division’s focus on tight component integration will underpin the production rollout of Apple’s next-generation flagship devices.
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