Apple is reportedly preparing a massive redesign for its 2027 iPhone lineup, skipping the iPhone 19 moniker for the 20th anniversary. Early leaks reveal larger pro displays with quad-curved, borderless glass and a smaller Dynamic Island cutout.
Display Sizes and Resolutions for the iPhone 20 Pro Lineup
Fresh off the launch of the iPhone 18 line, which features new colours, upgraded cameras, and the latest A20 Pro chip, early supply-chain whispers point directly toward a major physical refresh in 2027. According to Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station, Apple is testing display panels with slightly larger footprints and higher pixel counts for the upcoming generation.
The smaller pro model features a 6.41-inch display carrying a resolution of approximately 2,686 by 1,236 pixels. Meanwhile, the larger iPhone 20 Pro Max moves to a 6.96-inch panel with a resolution of roughly 2,912 by 1,340 pixels, which could be marketed as a 7-inch display upon production.
These dimensions represent a modest growth over the current hardware. For comparison, the iPhone 18 Pro measures 6.27 inches (rounded to 6.3 inches) with a 2,622 by 1,206 resolution, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max measures 6.86 inches (rounded to 6.9 inches) with a 2,868 by 1,320 resolution. Apple has maintained these general display sizes since 2024. The new resolution increases track closely with the larger physical dimensions, ensuring that both devices retain roughly the same 460 ppi pixel density as their predecessors.
Quad-Curved Glass and the Search for a Borderless Design
The physical panel dimensions are only part of the story. Multiple reports indicate that Apple is testing a radical shift away from the flat display design of the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
Instead of hard bezels, the forthcoming anniversary devices are being tested with a borderless appearance with curvature extending across all four edges. This construction would wrap visually toward the edges of the device, creating a nearly uninterrupted slab of glass during normal use.
“Apple is reportedly testing a bezel-less quad-curved display design, along with a smaller display cutout that could further shrink the Dynamic Island.”
Ice Universe, via Mashable
While companies like Xiaomi (with the original Mi Mix in 2016), Vivo (with the Vivo NEX), Oppo (with the Oppo Find X), and Honor (with the Honor Magic 2) previously experimented with pop-up or sliding camera systems to minimize bezels, Apple’s reported approach relies on advanced panel manufacturing. Bloomberg reported that Apple began ramping up work on two sizes of the 20th-anniversary device as early as June.
Shrinking the Dynamic Island and the Under-Display Challenge
Alongside the quad-curved glass, the display cutout is shrinking. While initial rumors pointed toward fully concealed under-display Face ID and selfie cameras, engineering hurdles remain formidable.
Photo and video quality issues and concealment issues with under-screen hardware on devices like the iPhone Duo highlight the exact engineering hurdles Apple faces. Consequently, the tech giant is testing a tiny punch-hole display housing a significantly reduced Dynamic Island footprint as a practical compromise.
Skipping the iPhone 19 for the 20th Anniversary
The nomenclature surrounding the 2027 release mirrors a famous historical precedent. Just as Apple skipped the iPhone 9 in 2017 to launch the tenth-anniversary iPhone X, the company intends to skip the iPhone 19 name altogether.
The 2027 release will mark two decades since the original iPhone debuted in 2007. This commemorative milestone provides an ideal window for a generational redesign, though it also introduces financial implications for buyers.
Generational Price Pressures and What Comes Next
A redesign of this magnitude rarely arrives without an economic impact.
Whether consumers will accept steeper pricing for a quad-curved, near-borderless form factor remains the primary open question as development prototypes continue through testing ahead of a targeted September 2027 launch.