Apple’s 2027 iPhone could ditch buttons entirely

Apple’s 20th-anniversary iPhone, expected in 2027, is shaping up as the company’s biggest iPhone redesign since the iPhone X. Rumors point to an all-glass build, no physical buttons, a new OLED display from Samsung Display, and a possible shift to more advanced battery and memory tech.

The naming is still unclear. Apple could follow the current sequence and ship an iPhone 19, but 2017 offers a precedent: the company skipped the iPhone 9 and launched the iPhone X alongside the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. That leaves open the possibility of an iPhone 20, iPhone XX, or something else entirely.

Recent reports suggest Apple is testing a far more ambitious design. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has described the device as having an “extraordinarily complex” design. Leaks from Fixed Focus Digital and Instant Digital claim Apple’s supply chain has prepared for an all-glass model and that solid-state buttons have passed testing, including use with gloves, wet hands, and in extreme temperatures. According to those reports, the buttons would be built into the frame and use localized haptic feedback, similar to a MacBook trackpad, with a dedicated low-power chip that works even when the phone is switched off.

Display and internal hardware

Display rumors are less settled. A Bloomberg report in May 2025 said Apple was planning an all-glass device “without any cutouts in the display.” But display analyst Ross Young said on X that he does not expect an all-screen iPhone before 2030. He has also said the Face ID components could sit under a transparent area of the display, producing a smaller notch on the 2026 and 2027 iPhones.

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Another rumor, from Digital Chat Station, says Apple has asked Samsung Display for an equal-depth quad-curved panel with shallow “micro-curves.” Separately, ETNews reported that the anniversary iPhone could use a Samsung OLED panel with Color Filter on Encapsulation technology, which could make the display thinner, brighter, less reflective, and more power efficient.

On performance, Apple is expected to move to 2nm chips with the iPhone 18 lineup later this year. The 2027 model could use a second-generation 2nm chip and Mobile High Bandwidth Memory RAM. Apple is also reportedly exploring pure silicon anode battery technology for the device, according to ETNews, which could allow for higher battery capacity in less space.

Camera details remain thin. The article notes rumors of a 200-megapixel sensor on an iPhone in 2028, but says there is little concrete information about the 2027 model’s camera system, including whether the selfie camera would sit under the display.

Price and launch window

There is no pricing rumor yet, but the signs point upward. Apple has already raised prices on products including the Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, and iPad, while broader electronics costs continue to rise. The iPhone X launched at $999 in 2017, up from the $799 iPhone 8 Plus, offering a possible template for a premium anniversary model.

A Counterpoint Research report says the bill of materials for an iPhone 18 Pro Max with 12GB of memory and 1TB of storage could rise by nearly $300 versus its predecessor. If memory and storage shortages continue into 2027, that could push the anniversary iPhone even higher.

For now, the clearest timing rumor is a launch in September 2027 — even if the final name, design, and display cutout are still up in the air.