Apple Plans Major Redesigns for iPhone 18 and iPhone 20
Apple Inc. is developing hardware upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro Max in 2026 and a radical redesign for the iPhone 20 in 2027.
Apple Inc. is preparing a series of significant hardware overhauls for its future smartphone lineups, spanning from the 2026 iPhone 18 series to the 20th-anniversary iPhone 20 models in 2027.
The company expects to launch the iPhone 18 Pro Max in September 2026, featuring an A20 Pro chip built on a 2-nanometer process by TSMC. This model is slated to include a 5,567mAh battery, 12GB of RAM, a proprietary C2 modem for enhanced 5G and satellite support, and a 35% smaller Dynamic Island. In collaboration with Samsung, Apple is also developing a three-layer stacked image sensor with variable aperture. While Pro and foldable Ultra models are expected in September, the standard iPhone 18 may be delayed until spring 2027.
Looking further ahead to September 2027, leaks from Digital Chat Station indicate a radical redesign for the 20th-anniversary iPhone 20 lineup. The iPhone 20 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to feature larger 6.4-inch and 7-inch displays, respectively, utilizing a bezel-free, quad-curved design. These anniversary models may eliminate the Dynamic Island in favor of under-display Face ID and replace physical controls with solid-state buttons. Further anticipated upgrades include the A21 chip, higher-bandwidth memory, and silicon-anode batteries to increase power efficiency without adding thickness.