Apple Plans Three-Year iPhone Overhaul: iPhone Air in 2025, Foldable in 2026, Curved 'iPhone 20' in 2027

After years of mostly incremental design updates, Apple is reportedly planning a three-year cycle of major iPhone redesigns to reinvigorate its flagship product, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The ambitious roadmap is said to begin this fall with a new ultra-thin model, followed by the company's first foldable in 2026, and a curved-glass flagship for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027.

The first step in the overhaul will be the introduction of the 'iPhone Air' this September, a new ultra-thin model that is expected to replace the iPhone Plus. To achieve its slim profile, the design will reportedly make some trade-offs, including shorter battery life, a single rear camera, and eSIM-only support. Gurman notes the Air model will also be the first device to use Apple's in-house modem chip. The rest of the iPhone 17 lineup is expected to be a more modest update, though the Pro models will feature a revamped rear camera system and a new orange color option.

The "game changer," according to the report, is slated for 2026 with Apple's first foldable iPhone, codenamed V68. The device — Apple's long-awaited entry into the foldables category — is said to feature a book-style design similar to Samsung's foldables, with four cameras: one on the front, one inside, and two on the back. Like the iPhone Air, it will have no physical SIM-card slot. In a notable design choice, the foldable is expected to use Touch ID instead of Face ID. While plans could evolve, Apple is reportedly testing only black and white color variations with suppliers. The foldable will also include the C2, Apple's second-generation cellular modem and the first to approach Qualcomm's latest offerings in performance.


Gurman's report also adds a key technical detail about the foldable's display. Apple originally planned to rely on on-cell touch sensors, but those created air gaps between the screen and its cover that made the crease more pronounced. The company is now pivoting to an in-cell touch screen, closer to what's used in current iPhones, a move expected to make the crease less obvious and improve touch accuracy. The standard iPhone 18 Pro that year is expected to be another iterative update.

The three-year cycle will culminate in 2027, coinciding with the iPhone's 20th anniversary. Internally dubbed the 'iPhone 20,' this device is expected to feature curved glass edges all around, finally breaking from the flat-edged look introduced in 2020. The design will align with Apple's new Liquid Glass-based interface for iOS and other operating systems, which is due to be released next month.

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