According to the latest leaks, Apple will debut the ultra-thin iPhone Air in 2025, followed by the long-awaited foldable iPhone (iPhone Fold) in 2026, and then unveil a special 20th-anniversary edition, the iPhone 20, in 2027.

iPhone 17 Air: Launching a new wave of design

Since the release of the iPhone 3G, Apple has largely followed a consistent release rhythm. Typically, a design would be used for one or two generations before being updated. However, in some cases like the iPhone 16, design changes were minimal, resembling the iPhone 12 launched in 2020.

This stagnation in appearance has led many users and analysts to criticize Apple for lacking design innovation, even though performance, cameras, and software ecosystem have continuously improved.

Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter reports that the iPhone 17 Air will spearhead this design evolution. Expected in 2025, it will likely be the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever made, featuring a newly designed horizontal camera bar.

The thinner profile may come at the cost of battery life, giving the iPhone 17 Air a shorter usage time than its Pro or Pro Max counterparts. It is expected to include Apple’s custom C1 modem, phasing out Qualcomm’s chips. The device will feature the A19 chip and a lower-speed USB-C port compared to the Pro models, continuing to be part of the standard lineup.

Despite concerns over battery life, the iPhone 17 Air is positioned to become a new design icon, much like the iPhone X, which eliminated the home button in 2017.

iPhone Fold: The 2026 turning point

After years of speculation, Apple is reportedly ready to launch its foldable iPhone in 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 lineup.

This device is expected to mirror the design of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, with a smaller outer screen and a large inner display when unfolded – similar to a compact iPad mini. However, Apple is likely to retain its own design language rather than mimicking competitors.

A notable potential feature is the return of Touch ID, providing users with authentication options across different folded modes where Face ID might be less effective. If true, this would mark the first time Apple has reintroduced Touch ID since the 2022 iPhone SE.

Industry experts believe the iPhone Fold could launch Apple into a new product category, directly challenging Samsung, Huawei, and Oppo, who already have years of experience in the foldable market.

iPhone 20: A 20-year celebration in 2027

The year 2027 marks two decades since the first iPhone launched. Rumors suggest Apple might release an iPhone 20, potentially skipping the “iPhone 19” name to highlight the anniversary. Some speculate it could be branded iPhone XX, using Roman numerals to represent 20.

Leaked concepts suggest the device may feature a seamless curved edge made of Liquid Glass, a new material introduced in iOS 26. This would be a radical departure from the flat-edge design Apple has used since the iPhone 12.

Analysts are drawing parallels between the iPhone 20 and the iPhone X, which once revolutionized the smartphone industry with an edge-to-edge screen and Face ID.

Balancing innovation with user familiarity

While the design changes are eye-catching, mainstream users may still gravitate toward more familiar iPhone models. Many consumers prioritize reliability over novelty. Nevertheless, launching at least one distinctively new iPhone each year could help reignite consumer excitement and dispel the narrative that Apple has lost its innovative edge.

Apple analyst Mark Gurman of Bloomberg remarked, “Apple appears to be planning an ambitious three-year cycle. If successful, the company could recapture the excitement last seen with the iPhone X.”

In tandem with hardware innovation, Apple is doubling down on software advancements. iOS 19, iOS 20, and iOS 21 are expected to integrate more deeply with Apple Intelligence, the company’s proprietary AI platform. Features such as smart personal assistants, advanced image/video editing, and AI-driven creative tools will likely become standard.

These upgrades are set to strengthen the appeal of upcoming iPhones and lay the groundwork for the next decade, with a goal of reaching 1 billion units sold within 10 years.

With the iPhone 17 Air’s sleek form, the iPhone Fold’s engineering breakthrough, and the iPhone 20’s celebratory design, Apple is poised for a transformative chapter. These new models embody a renewed commitment to innovation, blending cutting-edge design with powerful AI and a refined software ecosystem.

Should these predictions come to fruition, Apple could once again set a defining milestone in mobile technology, just as it did with the iPhone X.

Hai Phong