Apple has a unique iPhone redesign coming next year for the product’s 20th anniversary, and it reportedly was created to blend seamlessly with iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design.
‘Glasswing’ iPhone design for 20th anniversary is intended to complement Liquid Glass
This weekend, Mark Gurman wrote the following in his Power On newsletter’s Q&A section:
Q: What’s this I’m hearing about a “Liquid Glass display” for the iPhone 20?
A: Last year, I reported that Apple is planning a major overhaul for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, internally dubbed by some as “Glasswing.” The name is a nod to the glasswing butterfly, whose transparent wings inspired a design with glass edges that curve seamlessly into the display on all four sides. The hardware shift is driving software changes as well. 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 Apple’s long-standing playbook: tightly integrating hardware and software. With the anniversary iPhone, the company is pushing that 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 won’t involve a standalone new model, but rather it’s coming to the 2027 iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max models.
According to Gurman, this new design was intended from the start to pair perfectly with Liquid Glass—making hardware and software blend seamlessly.
Rumors indicate the “Glasswing” design will offer a virtually bezel-free look. The display will curve slightly around the edges of the display.
The idea of iPhone hardware and software merging has long been a North Star at Apple. It certainly was under Jony Ive’s leadership, who touted the goal of iPhone resembling a simple slab of glass.
Assuming the 20th anniversary iPhone design trickles down to other models over time, it could make Liquid Glass look better than ever.
What do you think of the latest rumors on next year’s new iPhone redesign? Let us know in the comments.
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