Apple is reportedly planning a groundbreaking iPhone to mark the 20th anniversary of its iconic smartphone. Based on patent filings and early interface concepts, the new device may feature a seamless all-glass body and touch-sensitive curved edges.

According to a report dated August 24, Apple’s special edition 20th anniversary iPhone could be the first to adopt an entirely curved glass design, eliminating the traditional metal frame that currently holds the front and rear glass panels together. This concept has appeared repeatedly in patent applications submitted by Apple over the years.

Sources from Bloomberg revealed that this special model would also be the first curved iPhone, complementing Apple’s experimental “Liquid Glass” user interface, which is currently being tested in beta and is expected to launch publicly soon.

The repeated mention of this design concept across numerous patents suggests Apple is seriously considering its feasibility.

However, as is typical with patents, there is no indication of production costs or the complexity of large-scale manufacturing, leaving the commercial viability of an all-glass iPhone uncertain for now.

A milestone in the making

Apple first hinted at the possibility of touch-sensitive curved edges in a 2020 patent. This indicates that the company has long envisioned an iPhone that is entirely a touch-enabled glass block - not just the front, but also the sides and rear surfaces would serve as smart interactive displays.

It may have taken years of R&D to bring this vision closer to reality, but the 20th iPhone anniversary in 2027 presents the perfect moment for a bold launch.

Back in 2017, Apple made major changes with the iPhone X on the iPhone's 10th anniversary - removing the iconic home button, introducing Face ID, and unveiling a bezel-less OLED display. At the time, CEO Tim Cook claimed that the iPhone X design would define the next decade of smartphone innovation. While that claim was partly promotional, 2027 would mark 10 years since the launch of the iPhone X.

Apple may be aiming to replicate that milestone moment with an all-glass iPhone that commemorates 20 years since the original iPhone’s debut in 2007.

Another piece of the puzzle is the Liquid Glass interface in iOS. If rumors are accurate, the new OS interface will launch in 2025. Meanwhile, the all-glass iPhone is expected in 2027 - two years later.

Logically, Apple could roll out the interface ahead of the hardware so users can become familiar with its new visual language before integrating it into a revolutionary form factor. The staggered release could serve both strategic and usability goals.

Whatever the rationale, one thing is clear: Liquid Glass is coming in 2025, and the all-glass iPhone may follow in 2027.

If these reports prove accurate, Apple is preparing an iconic leap for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. With its monolithic glass design, touch-sensitive curved surfaces, and integration with Liquid Glass UI, the new iPhone could become one of the most revolutionary products in Apple’s history - just as the iPhone X reshaped the smartphone landscape in 2017.

Hai Phong