20th Anniversary iPhone Design Confirmed for Both Pro and Pro Max 2027 — Quad-Curved Bezel-Free Display, Under-Display Camera and Pure Silicon Battery

The 20th Anniversary Story — Not a Special iPhone But a Pro Redesign

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone's launch. Apple has long been rumored to be planning something special for this occasion. A few days ago a report talked about a 20th anniversary iPhone with a quad-curved screen. As it turns out, that won't be a special anniversary model — instead, that rumor was talking about a redesign coming to the Pro series. So the iPhone Pro and Pro Max released in 2027 will have that quad-curved screen design.

The Irony of It All

Chinese smartphone makers had quad-curved displays not long ago but then decided to drop them in favor of iPhone-like flat sides — and now Apple is heading toward curves. How ironic.

Leaked Design Details

Quad-Curved Display: Apple wants a display that curves down around all four edges of the device using advanced four-side bending display technology. The display circuitry has to be bent around all four edges with an ultra-thin film encapsulation layer to keep the OLED panel safe from moisture and air.

Some reports suggest complete removal of all front glass cutouts. Display analyst Ross Young points to a 1.1mm bezel but does not believe a notch-free all-screen iPhone will launch until 2030.

Under-Display Camera and Face ID: Apple is also working on making the 2027 iPhone Pros sport under-display cameras, but it's unclear if that will actually go anywhere. There is a better chance for the Face ID sensors to be under-display.

Solid-State Buttons: Apple is again working on a solid-state button system — solid-state buttons could replace the current mechanical buttons providing haptic feedback to mimic a button press. The device will allegedly feature solid-state buttons for the Side button, volume buttons, Action button, and Camera Control button.

Battery and Chipset: Apple is exploring pure silicon anode batteries able to store more lithium ions per gram, increasing battery life without major size increases. Apple is also targeting an in-house modem that outperforms Qualcomm by 2027.

The Display — Samsung Producing It: Apple is tapping Samsung to produce a custom micro-curved OLED display that is brighter and thinner than existing panels.

Apple's Three-Year Plan

Apple is in the middle of a three-year plan to "reinvent" the look and feel of the iPhone: September 2025: Redesigned iPhone 17 Pro and all-new iPhone Air ✅. September 2026: A foldable iPhone. September 2027: A special 20th-anniversary iPhone.