Anniversary iPhone leak points to curved glass and better cooling

Apple is reportedly using the same glass manufacturing process as the iPhone Air for its iPhone 20th anniversary launch. The iPhone 20, or iPhone XX, expected to launch in 2027, is said to be constructed with more rounded materials, according to leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo. Apple is also said to have improved the heat dissipation and thinness of the device.

The 20th anniversary iPhone has been the subject of leaks over the past year, with most rumours coalescing around the idea of an all-glass iPhone with curved edges. Apple's last anniversary iPhone was the iPhone X, which debuted with Face ID, the notch, and the new all-screen look that now defines modern iPhones. It's expected that the next anniversary iPhone could do the same when it comes to redefining the looks of succeeding iPhones.

Following up after the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 and 18 Pro

The 20th anniversary iPhone is not all Apple is cooking up for its mobile business. This year sees the launch of the iPhone 18, 18 Pro, and the more interesting iPhone Ultra.

While the iPhone 18 and 18 Pro are more of the same, the iPhone Ultra is the first Apple foldable to compete with the likes of Samsung, Oppo, and Honor. Quite a few leaks have come out about the hardware, but it's the software that'll be more interesting.

That's where Apple's biggest challenge could lie. The hardware will certainly attract attention (and has already begun influencing the market), but making a foldable feel like more than an iPhone awkwardly stretched across two screens will require Apple to rethink how iOS works. Android manufacturers have already spent years experimenting with multitasking, app layouts, and interfaces built around foldable displays. Apple will need a compelling answer from day one.

One thing's for sure, the next two years of iPhone are set to be very interesting.