For its 20th-anniversary iPhone, Apple is reportedly taking two commemorative steps. First, it's skipping the 19 moniker. Second, it's bringing back the curved screen design that Android manufacturers have mostly abandoned. A new leak offers a glimpse of what the 2027 flagship might look like.
Early look
The 2027 models are expected to get a major glass-centric overhaul, featuring glass on the front and back. The material will curve into the sides, effectively hiding the metal band in the middle.
Reliable leaker Ice Universe recently posted a video of the "3D quad-curved" sample cover glass. A cover glass is the glass layer covering the front of the device.
As rumored, the edges bend downward toward the frame on all four sides. The corners are rounded, and the cutouts for Face ID and the front camera appear smaller.
Other smartphone brands: “We JUST finished switching from curved screens to flat displays, and now you're bringing curved screens back?!
Apple, you're so damn annoying!” https://t.co/4GLjfLNtEY
How would you feel about a curved-display iPhone 20 Pro?
A glassy design
The iPhone 20 Pro might ditch its predecessor's flat screen. | Image by Ice Universe
Internally, the successors to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are reportedly codenamed V73 and V74, respectively.
Apple typically finalizes a new iPhone design a year before launch, so it's no surprise that a cover glass sample has popped up so soon after the iPhone 18 Pro's release.
That doesn't guarantee this design will make the cut, though, as hiccups in the advanced testing phase could still force Apple to change course. After all, the company previously shelved a more ambitious design with even more glass after it failed to hold up during testing.
Why is Apple going for it?
The iconic iPhone X celebrated the lineup's 10th birthday, so it's only fitting for the 20th anniversary model to be even bolder.
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Symmetrical curvature on all four sides would create a more immersive viewing experience and give a bezel-free look to the 2027 variants. The design might be complemented by a brighter and thinner Samsung-made OLED panel.
The new look has long been in the making, with the liquid glass interface that debuted last year setting the stage for it.
The 2027 models could also mark the first screen size increase since 2024, with the iPhone 20 Pro growing from 6.27 inches to 6.41 inches, and the Pro Max expanding from 6.86 inches to 6.96 inches.
Android: been there, done that
For a while, curved displays were all the rage in the Android world. Pioneered by Samsung, curved, edge-to-edge screens gave phones a sleek look and a fluid feel, but that's about where their appeal ended.
They were a source of constant frustration, with accidental touches and distracting glare marring the experience. Curved glass also caused screen protectors to peel off over time, which kept users on edge, given how much more fragile curved screens are than flat ones.
That's why most Android companies started ditching the trend around 2020.
The glass-focused iPhone 20 will undoubtedly make a splash, but it remains to be seen whether Apple can pull off a subtle, practical curve that doesn't get in the way of everyday use.
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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