Apple to roll out major iPhone redesigns and features through 2027

Apple is preparing a series of significant iPhone updates after several years of only incremental design changes. The details come from Mark Gurman’s column for Bloomberg.

Over the past five years, the iPhone’s appearance has barely changed — limited to minor tweaks to edges, colors, and the camera bump. The pace of design innovation has slowed considerably.

Consumers now tend to buy new iPhones mainly because of hardware failures, battery wear, or upgraded cameras. As Gurman notes, many stay in Apple’s ecosystem out of habit rather than excitement about new designs.

iPhone Air to Replace Plus Model in 2025

In September, Apple will introduce the iPhone Air — a thinner model that will replace the iPhone 16 Plus. The strategy mirrors the MacBook Air: slimmer, lighter, and more appealing to a wider audience.

The iPhone Air will come with trade-offs: shorter battery life, a single rear camera, and no physical SIM slot. It will also feature Apple’s first in-house modem chip, replacing Qualcomm’s more powerful solutions.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max will closely resemble the iPhone 16 but with refinements. Pro models are expected to get an updated camera system, a redesigned rear panel, and a new orange finish.

Foldable iPhone Coming in 2026

In 2026, Apple is set to release its first foldable iPhone, codenamed V68. The device will resemble Samsung’s foldables, opening into a tablet-sized display.

The foldable will feature four cameras, Touch ID instead of Face ID, and no SIM card slot. Apple suppliers are already working on the device, with production expected to ramp up in early 2025.

Currently, Apple is testing the foldable in black and white only. The company has also shifted its display technology from on-cell to in-cell sensors to make the crease less visible.

iPhone 20 with Curved Glass in 2027

For the iPhone’s 20th anniversary in 2027, Apple plans to launch a model with curved glass edges. The design will depart from the traditional rectangular form and feature a wraparound glass aesthetic.

The hardware update will be paired with a new “Liquid Glass” interface in iOS. According to Gurman, 2025 will serve as a transitional year, laying the groundwork for more radical changes in 2026 and 2027.

Other Apple Devices in the Pipeline

This fall, Apple will also roll out updated Apple Watch models, faster Vision Pro headsets, and an iPad Pro with the new M5 processor. New AirPods Pro with heart-rate monitoring, a refreshed HomePod mini, and updated Apple TV hardware are also expected.

In 2026, Apple’s lineup is projected to include the iPhone 17e, budget iPads, refreshed iPad Air models, MacBook Pros with the M5 chip, and a new external display for Mac. A new MacBook Air with the M5 chip is also on the roadmap.

Apple is reportedly preparing a HomePod with a built-in screen to compete with Amazon and Google in the smart home market, powered by a new operating system called Charismatic.

Looking further ahead, the company is said to be working on smart glasses without a display, a desktop robot, a lower-cost headset, AirPods with cameras, and even a foldable iPad-Mac hybrid.