From iPhone 17 Air to iPhone 20: Apple's Redesign Timeline - MacRumors
Skip to Content

From iPhone 17 Air to iPhone 20: Apple's Redesign Timeline

Apple is planning to completely change the design of the iPhone over the course of the next three years, leading to a radically different "iPhone 20" to celebrate the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027.

Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad
Here's what's coming.

2025

In 2025, Apple plans to debut the iPhone 17 Air, a much thinner version of the iPhone. Rumors suggest that it could be as thin as 5.5mm, which would make it the thinnest iPhone to date.

iPhone 17 Air Colors Fanned Feature
Apple is prioritizing the new, slimmed down chassis over features, and there will be some compromises. The ‌iPhone 17‌ Air is expected to have a single-lens camera and lower battery life because Apple has to use a thinner battery. Still, it is an all-new design, and it helps Apple start the move to slimmer smartphones.

2026

The first foldable iPhone is coming in 2026, and that will be the biggest change to Apple's smartphone lineup in iPhone history. Over the weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman shared a few more details on the device, adding to what we already know.

Apple Foldable Thumb
Apple's 2026 flagship iPhone will fold like a book, featuring an outer display when closed and a larger interior display when open. Apple has been working to reduce the crease, so the foldable iPhone will look like a single piece of glass.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the foldable iPhone will have a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner display. When it's unfolded, it'll be even thinner than the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air. It'll measure 4.5 to 4.8mm when open, and between 9 and 9.5mm when closed.

There will again be compromises, with Apple dropping Face ID and using Touch ID authentication instead. It will also be limited to a dual-lens rear camera, instead of a triple-lens setup, though there will be two front-facing cameras to make sure there's a selfie cam when it's open and when it's closed.

The foldable iPhone will be sold alongside more standard iPhone 18 models.

2027

For the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, Apple has big plans. You might think that the 20th anniversary iPhone will be a foldable device, but that's not the plan.

All Screen iPhone 2027 Feature 1
Apple is working on an iPhone with a wraparound display that curves around all of the edges, so there will be no bezels at all. It will look like a single piece of glass, with no squared edges and no cutouts at the front.

Apple is preparing for the all-glass iPhone with the 2025 and 2026 iPhones, and with the new Liquid Glass design in iOS 26.

Which iPhone are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below.

Popular Stories

Apple TV Thumb 3

Everything Coming in the 2026 Apple TV 4K

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:51 pm PDT by
The Apple TV 4K hasn't been updated since 2022, and it's due for a refresh. An update is planned for 2026, but Apple is likely going to wait to launch it after Siri AI launches in iOS 27. Design Apple TV design updates don't happen often, and that's not changing. The next Apple TV is going to have the same squircle shape as the current model, and it'll continue to be made from a black...
iphone 16e usb c feature

Apple Begins Selling a $419 iPhone

Monday July 6, 2026 6:29 am PDT by
Apple recently added the iPhone 16e to its refurbished store, with U.S. pricing starting as low as $419 for a model with 128GB of storage. Originally released in February 2025, the iPhone 16e is a lower-end device with a 6.1-inch OLED display, an A18 chip with 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence support, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a 12-megapixel front camera, a USB-C port, an Action...
iphone 16 teal

'Siri AI' Lawsuit Update: Apple to Pay Owners of These iPhone Models

Thursday July 9, 2026 7:08 am PDT by
In May, Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a U.S. class action lawsuit over Siri AI's delayed launch, and eligible iPhone users could receive up to a $95 payout. This week, the California court overseeing the case held a hearing regarding preliminary approval of the settlement, but the judge has not yet issued a ruling. It will likely be at least a few more months before eligible...

Top Rated Comments

11 months ago
Air in 2025, that's pretty much a lock.
Fold in 2026, sure.

Wraparound phone in 2027, i don't believe that for a second. Curved screens have been done before and failed; a wrap around phone is very much a form over function device; and arguably the form isn't very good.
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
11 months ago
Next upgrade for me is the 20th anniversary.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jon9091 Avatar
11 months ago
Apple is working on an iPhone with a wraparound display that curves around all of the edges, so there will be no bezels at all. It will look like a single piece of glass, with no squared edges and no cutouts at the front.

So…”you’re holding it wrong…again”
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dustin_ Avatar
11 months ago
how is one supposed to protect a wrapped glass screen? this rumor is so stupid.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
11 months ago
Absolutely NOT interested in flip/foldable phones.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JonneyGee Avatar
11 months ago
Just give me chamfered edges again with an all-screen design (the front camera and Face ID embedded under the screen) and I’m happy. No need for this gimmicky wraparound or folding garbage.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)