On Track! Apple's New Glass-Design iPhone Plan Unchanged, Set to Debut on 20th Anniversary in 2027

According to recent reports citing insiders, Apple has not canceled its '20th Anniversary Glass iPhone' project. Instead, it plans to launch an iPhone Pro model in 2027 with an evolved glass-centric design, internally codenamed V73 and V74. The front and back will be made of glass, curving into the sides, while retaining a metal frame in the middle—directly contradicting Jefferies analyst Edison Lee's recent report claiming Apple had 'canceled the plan and downgraded its outlook.'

Insiders told Bloomberg that Apple's design team once envisioned a more radical 'seamless all-glass body,' replacing the metal midframe entirely with glass. However, challenges in reliably bonding multiple glass pieces and achieving viable mass-production yields led to the early abandonment of that concept. The current design is a compromise: retaining a metal ring for structural strength while expanding glass coverage and curvature to achieve a visual continuity that mimics 'a single piece of glass wrapping the phone.'

Sources revealed that new device designs are typically finalized about a year in advance, and the 2027 model is already in late-stage validation. Unless unforeseen issues arise, no major changes are expected.

iPhone accounts for nearly half of Apple's revenue, with last quarter's sales up 22%—outpacing all other divisions. The company urgently needs a major design overhaul to extend upgrade cycles.

Apple's upcoming fall product launch next month is expected to first unveil a foldable iPhone—the most significant single design change in iPhone history—alongside the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max and a restructured camera system, including a new 'Deep Red' color option.

Following Steve Jobs' 2007 debut of the original iPhone, which pioneered the touch era with a glass-and-metal design, Apple is now, on its 20th anniversary, opting not to risk full-glass mass production. Instead, it is pushing the 'glass feel' to curved edges and seamless front-to-back transitions, balancing flagship distinctiveness with manufacturability.

While Apple declined to comment on the reports, the belief that its roadmap remains unchanged has already prompted supply chain partners to revise upward their expectations for orders related to glass thermal bending, UTG (ultra-thin glass), and precision metal midframe processing.