The 2027 iPhone may ditch the aluminium back for an all-glass design.
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Contrary to an analyst’s claim, Apple still plans to launch an all-glass iPhone on its 20th anniversary next year. “The company expects to launch iPhone Pro models next year that will make use of a new glassy look,” writes Gurman in a Bloomberg report.
Apple even tested a version with more glass but scrapped the plan early on due to design and manufacturing issues.
Apple’s all-glass iPhone 20 is still on track
Rumours swirling for the last year suggest that the iPhone 20 will launch with a curved glass design in 2027. However, based on a supply chain check, Jefferies analyst Edison Lee noted that Apple will not launch such an iPhone next year.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shot down the Jefferies claim. His Bloomberg report states that Apple still plans to launch an all-glass iPhone on its 20th anniversary next year. The phone will use glass on the front and back that curve into its sides, with a metal band in the middle.
“New iPhone designs are typically solidified around a year before the product’s annual debut in the fall. That means the plans for 2027 are already in advanced testing and mostly locked in — barring unforeseen hitches that could still occur,” says Gurman.
Given Gurman’s track record and the advanced stage of the iPhone 20’s development, there is little reason to doubt his report. Apple appears committed to the curved glass design for its 20th-anniversary iPhone, even if the final product won’t be quite as ambitious as some early prototypes.
Apple’s wilder all-glass iPhone didn’t make the cut
Apple even tested a version with more glass. However, it ran into problems joining the two glass panels together. It would have also proved challenging to mass-produce. So, Apple ditched the idea early on.
But the company’s plans for an all-glass iPhone 20 design are still on track for 2027.
Apple gave its Pro iPhones a much-needed design revamp with the iPhone 17 Pro last year. That led to a huge sales supercycle, with the iPhone 17 becoming the company’s most popular iPhone lineup ever.
Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
You can reach out to him at mail[at]rajeshpandey.me.
