"Three years of major iPhone redesign": What Apple is planning from 2026 onwards
Apple wants to rebuild the iPhone more than it has for a long time – and that for years, according to a report.
Three iPhone boxes on one table: look and feel could change.
(Image: KaterynaSypailova/Shutterstock)
Apple is facing several years of major changes to the iPhone. From next month, form factor changes are planned for the smartphone from Cupertino, the likes of which have not been seen for a long time. But that's not all: major design changes are also planned for 2026 and 2027. Apple is planning "three full years of major iPhone redesigns for the first time ever", writes Bloomberg Apple reporter Mark Gurman in his newsletter on Sunday.
Air, Foldable and a special edition
It will probably start on September 9 with the iPhone 17 generation. In addition to classic iPhones such as the new standard 17 and the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max models, which will feature new camera systems, the iPhone 16 Plus successor iPhone 17 Air (name still uncertain) is considered to be particularly exciting. The device is set to be the thinnest iPhone ever. However, users will have to make compromises: there is reportedly only one camera, no physical SIM card and a comparatively weak battery. Apple's own C1 modem chip is to be installed, but it is still slower than the competition from Qualcomm, which is found in other iPhones.
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Apple is then planning a "real game changer" for 2026: The company's first foldable after years of waiting is due to be released in the fall. The device will be based on models such as those from Samsung, but will feature a particularly durable hinge with a barely visible "crease" thanks to an in-cell touchscreen. According to Gurman, the device comes with four cameras – one at the front, one inside and two at the back. The SIM slot will also be missing here.
Touch ID on the foldable and glass iPhone 20
Gurman also claims to have learned that Apple is not relying on Face ID facial recognition for the foldable, but is (re)using the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. In the absence of a home button, this could be built into the display or the sleep/wake button. Initially, only white and black are reportedly planned as colors. Another foldable for 2027 is already in preparation, according to Gurman.
An "iPhone 20" is then planned for 2027 to mark the 20th anniversary of the iPhone (19 is reportedly not happening). The design will then move away from the standard look; instead, Apple wants to use rounded glass corners across the entire device. The Liquid Glass design introduced with iOS 26 should fit in particularly well with this. It remains to be seen whether the look will change. Overall, according to Gurman, 2025 will not be a "revolutionary" year for the iPhone, but it will lay the foundation for major changes over the next two years. "Exciting times for iPhone fans."
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