On July 13, NUPIAO and several tech media outlets reported that, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, Apple is making a radical change to the body material of the iPhone 20 series, set to launch in 2027.
The iPhone 20 series will go back to using glass, likely adopting a unified glass construction similar to the iPhone Air. If this rumor is true, it means the new model will abandon the aluminum body design used in the last two generations, fully embracing a seamless glass body crafted with new techniques to create a fresh look.
Back in May, a well-known Apple-focused tech journalist, Mark Gurman, hinted that the upcoming iPhone 20 series would officially move away from the aluminum body design seen in the last two generations, returning to a unified glass material. This is set to be one of Apple’s biggest exterior hardware design changes in nearly four years.
It’s reported that the iPhone 20 series has an internal codename of “Glasswing,” with the core design focus on the full reuse and upgrade of glass. The previous iPhone 18 and iPhone 19 models used a combination of an aluminum frame and a glass back. This choice was popular for being lightweight, resistant to bending, and cost-effective, making it the go-to material for Apple’s mid-range flagships.
This shift back to glass is also a classic move in Apple’s design philosophy. Glass bodies were once a signature feature of Apple’s high-end flagships, with iconic models like the iPhone 8 and iPhone X using glass for their stunning looks and great feel. Later, to balance weight and durability, Apple gradually switched to stainless steel and aluminum.
However, the glass returning this time isn’t your average glass. It’s expected to be an upgraded version of the Super Ceramic Shield composite glass process from the iPhone Air series. This process embeds special composite reinforcing materials into the glass crystal structure, rearranging the internal molecular alignment. The result is a material far more resistant to impacts and drops than traditional glass, while also avoiding common issues with aluminum bodies like easy scratching, cold and hard feel, and signal interference. It strikes a perfect balance between durability and premium texture.
The iPhone 20 series will be powered by the A21 Pro chip, built using TSMC’s 2nm process, and will come pre-installed with the iOS 28 system.
On top of that, according to current leaks, the iPhone 20 series will feature several groundbreaking design changes. On the display front, it’s expected to use a custom four-curved OLED panel from Samsung, delivering an almost bezel-less look.
In terms of interaction, the iPhone 20 series might incorporate under-display Face ID and an under-display front camera, achieving a true full-screen design without a notch or Dynamic Island. The seamless all-glass body will maximize the integration of the screen and body, improving water and dust resistance to a whole new level.
As of now, Apple has not officially announced the materials, design, specs, or launch details for the iPhone 20 series.
When the iPhone celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2017, Apple skipped the iPhone 9 and launched a model named with the Roman numeral “X” (representing 10), introducing groundbreaking technologies like the OLED screen and Face ID for the first time.
2027 marks the 20th anniversary of the iPhone’s release. If Apple skips “19” and directly names the model “iPhone 20,” it would be a perfect replay of that successful marketing tactic, while also helping avoid confusion between the two generations. Some analysts believe that the number “20” has better recognition and symbolic value, making it more suitable for bundling a full set of revolutionary hardware upgrades in promotional campaigns.
Tim Cook will step down as CEO on September 1 this year to become the executive chairman of the board. John Ternus, currently the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will take over as Apple’s third official CEO, following Steve Jobs and Tim Cook.
Ternus is a typical engineer-driven leader who will guide Apple through the transition from “defensive expansion” to “hardware innovation + AI implementation.”
The next two years will be the most product-intensive period in Apple’s history.
According to the plan, Ternus will officially start his role on September 1, followed by the fall product launch event that same month, where he will unveil the foldable iPhone as his first flagship hardware and signature debut.
Apple is also expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, along with the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. Additionally, there will be multiple new Macs, a new entry-level iPad supporting Apple Intelligence, and possibly a smart home hub, an OLED iPad mini, a new Apple TV, and a new HomePod mini.
In early July, according to multiple sources, Apple’s first foldable iPhone is speeding up its development and has already entered mass production.The manufacturing leader Foxconn has started large-scale recruitment to prepare manpower for the new device.Renowned Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently posted on social media platform X, stating that according to his latest industry survey, the assembled shipments for the foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026 will be around 7 to 8 million units. Of these, shipments in the third quarter are expected to be between 500,000 and 1 million units, accounting for about 10% of the total.
2027, as the key 20th anniversary of the iPhone, will see Apple kick off a dense cycle of new product iterations, updating multiple hardware product lines across the board.
According to leaked plans, Apple will launch the second-generation iPhone Air in the spring of 2027. The fall launch event will bring a heavy-hitting flagship lineup, including the iPhone 20 Pro and iPhone 20 Pro Max, the second-generation foldable iPhone, and new AirPods with a new camera module and Siri AI features.
In addition, the highly anticipated first Apple smart glasses have been given a release timeline. Originally planned for launch at the end of this year, after adjustments, it has been postponed to the end of 2027. Between 2027 and 2028, Apple plans to launch a new desktop robot with a robotic arm and a fully upgraded Vision Pro headset, continuously improving its smart ecosystem.
