Apple's iPhone 20th anniversary model, which makes extensive use of glass, is progressing smoothly towards its release in 2027.

Bloomberg reports that Apple is planning a model with a design that makes extensive use of glass to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone's release.

Apple's Glass-Centric 20th-Anniversary iPhone Remains on Track for 2027 - Bloomberg

https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/10/apples-20th-anniversary-iphone-redesign-reportedly-remains-on-track/

Apple was planning a major redesign in 2027 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, featuring a glass-heavy design. Industry analysts had reported that this plan for a glass-heavy 20th-anniversary iPhone had been canceled, but sources familiar with the matter have revealed that the analysts' claims were incorrect.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Apple plans to adopt a new glass-like design for its iPhone Pro models to be released in 2027. These 20th-anniversary iPhones are internally referred to as 'V73' and 'V74,' and will feature glass on both the front and back, with the glass curving outwards to the sides of the device. A metal band will reportedly be placed at the seam between the front and back glass.

Apple's design team had even more ambitious design ideas in mind, including considering using more glass instead of metal. However, this design was apparently abandoned early in the development process. Designs using a lot of glass not only presented problems when joining glass panels together, but also proved difficult to maintain when considering mass production methods.

Edison Lee, an analyst at the securities firm Jefferies, reported , based on supply chain research, that development of an all-glass iPhone had been canceled, and downgraded Apple's stock, citing that this move would hinder the development of high-end smartphones.

According to Bloomberg, 'the design of a new iPhone is usually finalized about a year before the annual fall product announcement.' Therefore, Bloomberg reports that plans for the 20th-anniversary iPhone, scheduled for release in 2027, 'should already be in the advanced testing phase and largely confirmed.' However, unforeseen problems could arise in the future, potentially changing the plans.

The iPhone is Apple's largest revenue source, accounting for about half of the company's sales. It has recently been outgrowing Apple's other businesses, with iPhone sales increasing by 22% year-on-year in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 (April-June).

Apple announces Q3 2026 earnings: iPhone, Mac, and subscriptions perform well, but iPad sales decline - GIGAZINE

Apple is scheduled to hold a new product launch event in September 2026 to announce a new iPhone. It is expected that Apple will unveil a new foldable iPhone at this event, and Bloomberg reports that this will be the biggest change to the iPhone's appearance ever.

Summary of predictions for the 'foldable iPhone,' including Touch ID instead of Face ID, a revamped UI, and the size of the display - GIGAZINE