Apple is proposing a unique redesign of the iPhone next year for the product’s 20th anniversary, and it was reportedly created to blend seamlessly with iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design.
20th anniversary iPhone ‘Glasswing’ design intended to complement Liquid Glass
This weekend, Mark Gurman wrote the following in his To light up Question and answer section of the newsletter:
Question : What do I hear about a “Liquid Glass display” for the iPhone 20?
A: Last year, I reported that Apple was planning a major redesign for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, dubbed internally by some as “Glasswing.” The name is a nod to the glass-winged butterfly, whose transparent wings inspired a design with glass edges that curve seamlessly into the screen on all four sides. Hardware change also leads to software changes. Apple’s new Liquid Glass interface is designed to visually blend into this design, creating a more unified look for the device and its operating system. The strategy fits with Apple’s long-standing strategy of tightly integrating hardware and software. With the anniversary iPhone, the company takes this approach further, making the interface feel like an extension of the physical device itself.
Last week, analyst Jeff Pu reported that the expected 20th anniversary iPhone design would not involve a new standalone model, but would instead involve the 2027 iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max models.
According to Gurman, this new design was intended from the start to pair seamlessly with Liquid Glass, allowing for a seamless fusion of hardware and software.
Rumors indicate that the “Glasswing” design will offer a virtually bezel-less look. The screen curves slightly at the edges of the screen.
The idea of merging iPhone hardware and software has long been a North Star at Apple. This was certainly under the leadership of Jony Ive, who touted the iPhone’s goal of looking like a simple slab of glass.
Assuming the 20th anniversary iPhone design trickles down to other models over time, this could make Liquid Glass look better than ever.
What do you think of the latest rumors about the new iPhone redesign next year? Let us know in the comments.
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