According to South Korean media outlet ET News, Heo Moo-yeol, chief researcher at market analysis firm Omdia, revealed at a recent conference in Seoul that “Apple will launch the iPhone 20 in the first half of 2027.”

If accurate, the timing would align more closely with the 20-year anniversary of the original iPhone's debut in 2007.

Heo also revealed that Apple plans to skip the “iPhone 19” name entirely, jumping straight to “iPhone 20” in a bold branding move.

This echoes what Apple did in 2017 when it jumped from iPhone 8 to iPhone X (iPhone 10) to celebrate the product line’s 10th anniversary.

The naming could be a strategic effort to underscore the 20-year milestone while signaling a significant design shift - similar to how the iPhone X revolutionized the product line with its bezel-less display and Face ID.

According to Omdia, Apple may revamp its iPhone launch strategy beginning in 2027 by splitting releases into two phases.

In the first half of 2027, the company is expected to launch the iPhone 18e and iPhone 20.

In the second half, Apple will reportedly introduce more premium models, including the iPhone Air, iPhone 20 Pro, iPhone 20 Pro Max, and the second-generation iPhone Fold.

This rumor aligns with earlier reports suggesting that beginning in 2026, Apple will release its Pro lineup in September while introducing more affordable models in the spring of the following year.

Some insiders have speculated that iPhone 20 could feature the boldest design overhaul since the iPhone X, possibly sporting a seamless curved glass body.

If true, this would be the first iPhone with a curved design since 2020, based on a series of Apple patents involving curved glass chassis and flexible displays filed in recent years.

Such changes would make the iPhone 20 not only symbolic of Apple’s 20-year journey with the product but also a turning point in its design and manufacturing innovation.

While the report has generated buzz, Omdia has no proven track record for accurately leaking Apple products.

In December 2024, the firm released a detailed report on Apple’s OLED roadmap, but those projections focused on post-2026 developments and remain unverified.

As a result, many tech analysts remain skeptical that Apple will release iPhone 20 earlier than its usual September window. Releasing the device just six months after the expected launch of the iPhone 19 Pro or the next iPhone Fold could disrupt Apple’s product timeline and dilute market attention.

Hai Phong