Apple is gearing up for a major product overhaul in 2027, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the iPhone. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to release a “mostly glass, curved iPhone” that could represent the company’s most progressive design change in years. This new iPhone is expected to feature a smooth, edge-to-edge display with no visible camera cutouts or bezels. This is because of its under-display front camera and advanced display technology.
What Does Apple “Mostly Glass, Curved” iPhone Mean?
While current iPhones already use a lot of glass-like the iPhone 15 Pro, which has glass on both the front and back with a titanium frame-the 2027 model is expected to push the concept further. Apple has filed a license since 2019 for devices encased in glass that form a “continuous loop” around the device, hinting at a design where the glass wraps more fully around the phone for a futuristic, smooth look. Unlike some competitors, such as Samsung and Vivo, Apple reportedly won’t curve the display down the sides, but will instead focus on maximizing the screen-to-body ratio and eliminating visible seams or cutouts.
Technical Challenges and Innovations
Achieving this design requires overcoming big engineering obstacles. Flexible OLED panels must bend and curve without compromising durability or display quality. Apple’s display partners, including Samsung Display and LG Display, have reportedly been working to solve problems with thin film encapsulation and optical adhesives to make this vision possible. If it is successful, the 2027 iPhone could set a new standard for smartphone aesthetics.
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Other Big Apple Announcements Expected for 2027
Gurman also reports that 2027 will be a landmark year for Apple across several product lines:
- Foldable iPhone: Apple is rumored to finally launch its first foldable iPhone, entering a market already populated by Samsung and other rivals.
- Smart Glasses: Apple is expected to debut its first smart glasses, aiming to compete with products like Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories.
- Camera-Equipped AirPods and Apple Watch: New versions of AirPods and the Apple Watch with integrated cameras are reportedly in development for release that year.
- Home Robot: Apple is working on a tabletop home robot featuring an AI assistant with a unique, human-like personality. This robot would leverage generative AI for more natural and complex interactions, potentially offering a new kind of smart home experience.
- AI-Powered Siri and Server Chips: By 2027, Apple may finally launch a Siri assistant powered by large language models (LLMs), making it more conversational and capable of handling complex tasks. This upgrade will be supported by new, in-house server chips designed specifically for advanced AI processing. Apple’s AI efforts will also focus on privacy, ensuring user data remains protected even as AI capabilities expand.
Summary
- Apple’s move toward an all-glass, wraparound design could open up new possibilities for gesture controls or touch-sensitive surfaces on the sides and back of the device, potentially changing how users interact with their phones.
- The smart glasses project is likely to build on Apple’s ARKit ecosystem, integrating with iPhones and Macs for seamless augmented reality experiences.
- Apple’s focus on in-house AI server chips reflects a broader industry trend of tech giants developing custom silicon to optimize AI workloads and reduce reliance on third-party suppliers.
- The home robot project, while ambitious, faces skepticism given Apple’s recent struggles with new product categories, such as the mixed reception to the Vision Pro headset and the cancellation of the Apple Car project.
In summary, Apple’s 2027 roadmap signals a bold leap in design and technology, with a futuristic iPhone, advanced AI features, and new product categories poised to reshape the company’s ecosystem.
