Apple is gearing up for the launch of its iPhone 17 series, which is anticipated to incorporate a new iPhone Air alongside several design alterations. However, based on numerous leaks, these changes are not expected to be as significant as those seen with the iPhone 12 in 2020 or the iPhone X in 2017. In fact, Apple’s design approach appears to have plateaued in recent years, with little evolution noted from the iPhone 12 through the current iPhone 16 models. Notably, fresh insights indicate that a substantial redesign is in store for the forthcoming iPhone 19 series, set to debut in 2027.
Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, known for his reliable Apple-related leaks, recently shared some details about future iPhone models in his weekly Power On newsletter. He mentioned that Apple is planning a significant transformation for its 20th anniversary iPhone. Among the innovations, there is talk of a foldable model, while the iPhone 19 Pro is expected to utilize a design featuring “extensive use of glass.”
According to 9to5Mac, this glass-centric design evokes the vision of former design chief Jony Ive, who had long envisioned an iPhone appearing as a seamless sheet of glass. While the iPhone X made strides towards this concept, current iPhones have become bulkier in comparison to earlier models. For instance, the iPhone 8 Plus (2017) is thinner at 7.5mm, while the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max measures 8.3mm—though it boasts superior camera capabilities among other enhancements.
The precise outcome of Apple’s focus on glass remains to be seen. It could either resemble a more radical design like Xiaomi’s Mi Mix Alpha, which forwent volume buttons and featured a wrap-around display, or it could adopt a subtler aesthetic, eliminating bezels entirely similar to the Samsung Galaxy S9, which showcased aggressively curved display edges. The technological advancements available today open up a myriad of possibilities compared to what was feasible at the time of the aforementioned models’ releases in 2018.
Apple’s previous milestone, the 10-year anniversary in 2017, yielded the iPhone X, which was groundbreaking in multiple aspects. It introduced a novel design language characterized by a rounded stainless-steel frame and a “bezel-less” format, shunning the thick borders typical of previous models. The iPhone X was the first to feature an OLED display and rounded corners in iOS, while innovations like Face ID marked a significant shift in security features, leading to the eventual phase-out of Touch ID. Additionally, it introduced Portrait mode, allowing users to capture images with software-enabled shallow depth of field.
