Leaked renders hint at a major design overhaul for Apple’s 20th Anniversary iPhone, including curved glass, a new camera layout and a possible punch-hole display.
The 20th Anniversary iPhone could bring one of the most significant design changes to Apple’s smartphone lineup yet. Early renders circulating online reportedly show a device with curved glass extending around the display and rear panel, alongside a redesigned camera arrangement and potentially a new approach to biometric authentication.
Apple is expected to mark two decades of the iPhone in 2027, making the 20th Anniversary iPhone potentially more than a routine annual upgrade. Previous reports have suggested that Apple is preparing a major product push around the milestone, with the company potentially using the anniversary to introduce a substantially redesigned iPhone.
The latest information comes from leaked renders shared by tipster Yogesh Brar on X. The renders should be treated as unverified, as Apple has not confirmed the design or specifications of its 2027 iPhone lineup.
20th Anniversary iPhone Could Get Curved Glass Design
The biggest change shown in the leaked 20th Anniversary iPhone renders is the apparent move towards a curved form factor.
The front of the purported device appears to feature a quad-curved display, with the glass extending towards all four edges. The rear panel also appears to use curved glass rather than the relatively flat design Apple has adopted across recent iPhone generations.
If the leaked design eventually becomes reality, the 20th Anniversary iPhone would represent a significant departure from Apple’s current design language.
Apple has increasingly used flat edges and flat display surfaces across its recent iPhone generations. A return to curved edges would therefore give the anniversary model a distinctly different appearance.
The curved construction could also allow Apple to reduce the visual prominence of the bezels and create a more immersive display experience.
However, curved displays also bring practical considerations. Accidental touches, screen protection and durability can become more complicated when the glass extends towards the edges of the device.
New Camera Layout Could Mark Another Major Change
The 20th Anniversary iPhone could also receive a completely redesigned rear camera arrangement.
The leaked renders appear to show two camera lenses positioned horizontally across the rear panel.
This would be a notable change from Apple’s recent iPhone designs, where the rear cameras have generally followed vertically or diagonally arranged layouts depending on the model.
A horizontal camera arrangement could give the anniversary iPhone a cleaner appearance while helping Apple visually distinguish it from existing models.
It remains unclear whether the camera layout shown in the renders represents the final hardware design or simply an early prototype concept.
The 20th Anniversary iPhone is still at a relatively early stage in its development, meaning Apple could make several changes before production begins.
20th Anniversary iPhone May Replace Dynamic Island
Another potentially significant change concerns the front-facing camera and Face ID hardware.
The leaked 20th Anniversary iPhone renders appear to show a conventional punch-hole cutout instead of the Dynamic Island currently used on recent iPhone models.
This would be a major development because the Dynamic Island houses several components associated with Face ID and the front-facing camera system.
A punch-hole design could give Apple more usable display space and reduce the visual interruption caused by the current pill-shaped cutout.
However, this immediately raises questions about how Apple would accommodate its Face ID components.
If Apple moves the Face ID hardware underneath the display, the company could potentially achieve a much cleaner front design.
Previous reports have similarly suggested that Apple is researching under-display Face ID technology for future iPhones.
The 20th Anniversary iPhone could therefore become the model where Apple finally moves towards a more uninterrupted display.
Could Touch ID Return to the iPhone?
The possible removal of the Dynamic Island has also reignited speculation around Apple’s biometric authentication technology.
If Face ID components are moved beneath the display, Apple could retain Face ID without requiring a visible cutout.
Another possibility is the return of Touch ID.
Touch ID has been absent from Apple’s flagship iPhone models for several generations following the transition to Face ID. However, reports surrounding Apple’s future products have occasionally suggested that fingerprint authentication could return in a new form.
The 20th Anniversary iPhone speculation should not be interpreted as confirmation that Apple is bringing Touch ID back.
There is currently no official information from Apple confirming a fingerprint sensor on the anniversary model.
The possibility is nevertheless interesting because the company appears to be exploring different ways to reduce visible biometric hardware on future iPhones.
Camera Control Button Is Missing From the Renders
One detail that has also attracted attention is the apparent absence of the Camera Control button.
Apple introduced the Camera Control button on recent iPhone models, positioning it on the side of the device to provide quick access to photography functions.
The leaked 20th Anniversary iPhone renders do not appear to show the button in its expected location.
If accurate, Apple could be considering another change to its physical controls.
Alternatively, the omission could simply mean the renders are incomplete or based on an early prototype.
It would therefore be premature to conclude that Apple plans to remove Camera Control from the 20th Anniversary iPhone.
Apple could also change the design of the button or integrate its functionality differently.
Glass Could Become the Focus of Apple’s Anniversary Design
The apparent emphasis on glass is another important element of the leaked 20th Anniversary iPhone design.
Apple has used glass backs on its premium iPhones for years, partly because of wireless charging requirements. However, the leaked design appears to take the glass concept further by incorporating curved surfaces across the device.
A more glass-centric construction could give the 20th Anniversary iPhone a distinctive appearance while reinforcing its status as a special anniversary model.
The challenge will be durability.
Curved glass extending around multiple edges could potentially be more vulnerable to impact than a conventional flat design. Apple may therefore need to develop new materials or structural reinforcement to make the device sufficiently durable for everyday use.
The company could also use advanced glass manufacturing techniques to maintain the curved profile without significantly increasing thickness or weight.
20th Anniversary iPhone Could Be More Than a Cosmetic Upgrade
The 20th Anniversary iPhone is expected to arrive at an important point in Apple’s product roadmap.
Rather than simply increasing processor performance or improving the camera, Apple could use the anniversary to introduce several technologies at once.
Potential changes suggested by reports and leaks include:
- Curved glass on the front and rear.
- A quad-curved display.
- Reduced or hidden display bezels.
- A punch-hole front camera design.
- Under-display Face ID components.
- A redesigned horizontal rear camera layout.
- Changes to physical controls.
- Possible Touch ID integration.
Not all of these features are confirmed, and some may never make it into the commercial product.
The 20th Anniversary iPhone should therefore be viewed as a potential design reset rather than a confirmed specification sheet.
Apple Could Launch the Anniversary iPhone Alongside Other Products
The 20th Anniversary iPhone may not be the only major product Apple introduces in 2027.
Reports have suggested that Apple is preparing a broader product push around the iPhone’s 20th anniversary.
One of the products reportedly under development is a second-generation foldable iPhone. This would follow Apple’s expected entry into the foldable smartphone segment with the first-generation model.
Apple is also reportedly exploring products such as camera-equipped AirPods and new AI-focused wearable devices.
If these reports materialise, 2027 could become one of Apple’s most significant product years.
The 20th Anniversary iPhone would naturally be the centrepiece of that strategy, potentially serving as a showcase for Apple’s latest display, camera, biometric and materials technology.
How the Design Could Affect Apple’s Position in the Premium Market
A major redesign could also help Apple respond to increasing competition in the premium smartphone segment.
Samsung and Chinese smartphone manufacturers have already experimented with curved displays, foldable screens, under-display technologies and unconventional camera designs.
Apple has traditionally taken a more gradual approach to hardware changes.
The 20th Anniversary iPhone could allow Apple to introduce several technologies after they have matured sufficiently for mass-market deployment.
This approach could be particularly important if Apple wants the anniversary model to feel fundamentally different from previous generations.
The company will also need to ensure that any new design does not compromise durability, battery life or repairability.
20th Anniversary iPhone Could Set the Direction for Future Models
The significance of the 20th Anniversary iPhone could extend beyond the 2027 model itself.
Apple’s anniversary products have historically attracted considerable attention because they can influence the design direction of future generations.
If the curved display, simplified front panel and redesigned camera arrangement shown in the leaked renders are accurate, Apple could use the device to establish a new design language for subsequent iPhones.
The company could eventually bring some of these technologies to more affordable models.
That would make the anniversary device a testing ground for Apple’s next generation of smartphone hardware.
What We Know and What Remains Unconfirmed
At this stage, much of the 20th Anniversary iPhone information remains based on leaks and reports.
Reported or leaked:
- Curved front and rear glass.
- Quad-curved display.
- Horizontal dual-camera arrangement.
- Possible punch-hole display.
- Potential under-display Face ID.
- Major design overhaul for 2027.
Not confirmed by Apple:
- The final product name.
- Final camera specifications.
- Touch ID support.
- Under-display Face ID.
- Removal of Camera Control.
- Final display specifications.
- Pricing.
- Exact launch date.
This distinction is important because Apple is likely to test multiple prototypes before finalising the production design.
20th Anniversary iPhone Could Be Apple’s Biggest Redesign Yet
The 20th Anniversary iPhone has the potential to become one of Apple’s most visually distinctive smartphones if the latest renders are accurate.
A curved glass body, redesigned camera system and a cleaner front display would represent a major departure from the current iPhone design.
The possible move away from the Dynamic Island could be even more significant, particularly if Apple manages to place Face ID components underneath the display.
However, the renders currently remain unconfirmed. Apple is not expected to reveal the final details until much closer to the product’s expected 2027 launch.
For now, the 20th Anniversary iPhone looks like a potentially ambitious redesign that could mark a new chapter in Apple’s smartphone strategy. If Apple manages to combine a radically different design with reliable biometrics, strong durability and meaningful software improvements, the anniversary iPhone could become one of the company’s most important launches of the decade.
