Max Headroom 
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In 2017, Apple celebrated the iPhone’s 10th birthday with the iPhone X, the biggest redesign in the product’s history. For the device’s 20th anniversary, all the rumors indicate that the company is preparing another landmark redesign.
The commemorative “iPhone 20” model isn’t expected until September 2027, but leaks have been piling up for months. According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is already deep into its development, and the picture forming across multiple reports is of an iPhone that looks like a single, uninterrupted slab of glass. Here’s what we’re expecting:
- A quad-curved, all-glass design: The display glass reportedly curves away on all four sides, concealing the metal frame during normal use. Apple is said to be working with Samsung on an “equal-depth quad-curved” display to achieve the effect.
- Advanced OLED technology: Apple was reportedly planning a brighter, thinner Samsung OLED panel using Color Filter on Encapsulation (COE) for the anniversary iPhone, but a more recent report suggests the technology has slipped: UBI Research does not expect COE on Apple’s Pro iPhones until 2029, casting doubt on its inclusion in the 2027 model.
- Under-display Face ID and camera: Apple is reportedly continuing to test hardware that would eliminate the final visible cutout from the front of the device. Apple already debuted an under-display camera on the iPhone Duo’s inner screen, but reviewers criticized its image quality. Whether an improved version will be ready for the iPhone 20’s rumored fall 2027 launch remains uncertain.
- Solid-state buttons: Apple is said to be testing haptic replacements for the Side, Volume, Action, and Camera Control buttons. The buttons could be integrated directly into the device’s frame, with no actual physical movement when pressed, yet retaining a tactile responsiveness.
- Apple modem in the United States: Apple is developing modems that it hopes will outperform Qualcomm’s on speed and AI functionality; its third-generation modem, due in 2027, is the one expected to finally exceed Qualcomm’s. The C1 and C1X are used in the iPhone 16e and iPhone Air, and the C2 now powers the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. Only the U.S. iPhone 18 Pro Max still uses a Qualcomm modem.
- Custom Apple image sensor: Apple is said to be developing its own stacked image sensor to replace the Sony sensors it has traditionally used for the iPhone. Apple has reportedly already developed a working prototype. The sensor is said to use LOFIC technology, which would let each pixel store varying amounts of light and potentially reach up to 20 stops of dynamic range.
- A 2-nanometer A21 chip: The 20th anniversary models are expected to feature a second-generation 2-nanometer chip. Following the A20 Pro in this year’s iPhone 18 Pro models, the anniversary models would likely be powered by the A21 Pro.
- Silicon anode battery: Apple is reportedly exploring a new battery technology that uses a silicon anode capable of storing more lithium ions per gram, potentially delivering longer battery life without increasing the physical size of the battery.
- Mobile high bandwidth memory: Apple is rumored to be evaluating vertically stacked DRAM technology to improve memory bandwidth and boost on-device AI performance.
- Two sizes: The two anniversary models are expected to be slightly larger than the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with Digital Chat Station claiming 6.41-inch and 6.96-inch displays, the larger of which would likely be marketed as a 7-inch panel.
With all that said, we’re still ahead of a rumored fall 2027 launch, and Apple’s plans shift constantly behind closed doors, plus features this ambitious have a habit of slipping a year or two. Under-display Face ID in particular has been “two years away” for about five years now.
Still, taken together, the leaks describe the most dramatic iPhone rethink since 2017. If even half of the features make it to the shipped device, the iPhone 20 should be worth holding out for. For everything we know so far, check out our dedicated guide.
This article, “iPhone 20 Pro: Ten Big Changes That Could Redefine Apple’s Flagship” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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