Apple is a company that plays its cards very close to its chest. It doesn’t usually drop hints or teasers, let alone foreshadow what’s to come. However, according to Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, the iOS 26 Liquid Glass redesign is a precursor to the upcoming 20th anniversary iPhone.
Liquid Design in iOS 26
As some of you might have heard by now, Apple plans to introduce a major UI revamp in iOS 26, using a Liquid Glass-like design language. It was initially thought that this revamp was a nod to the Apple Vision Pro headset and the visionOS platform. However, according to Gurman, Apple is setting the stage for the 20th anniversary iPhone.
According to Gurman, “And just as the old flat design was created in concert with new devices — like the Apple Watch and larger iPhones — Liquid Glass will set the stage for fresh hardware products. That includes a 2027 iPhone that will be overhauled to commemorate the iconic product’s two-decade anniversary.”
It’s kind of amazing to think that the first iPhone was released nearly two decades ago. Apple has made several changes to the design over the years. However, in the past few generations, Apple hasn’t really changed too much. For the most part, the iPhones from the past 3-4 years still look similar to each other.
But that could change on the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, where fans will finally get the massive redesign they have been hoping for.
20th anniversary iPhone
As Gurman notes, 2027 is the year Apple’s iPhone turns 20 years old, so the company is planning something special. Apple has done something similar before with the 10th anniversary iPhone, the iPhone X. So, it makes sense that the company is planning something for the 20th anniversary as well.
According to rumors, the 2027 iPhone will feature a “mostly glass” design. The rumors claim that the phone will have glass that wraps around the sides. If that’s true, it would be a first. This means that the iOS 26 Liquid Glass design should fit nicely with the new device. So, why is Apple releasing the revamp so early?
Apparently, the redesign in iOS 26 will change the way users interact with the platform. Presumably, Apple is giving users more time to get used to the changes and make tweaks and optimizations ahead of the all-glass iPhone. Either way, we’ll know more at WWDC later today, so check back with us for more updates.
2025-06-09 15:07:23