iPhone 18 Pro vs 20th Anniversary iPhone: Should You Wait for Apple's Biggest Redesign Yet?
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| Reports suggest Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone could feature a bezel-less design and under-display Face ID. |
Every year, Apple launches a new iPhone and tells us it's the best one ever made. Most of the time, the improvements are meaningful but predictable—a faster chip, a better camera, a brighter display. But once in a while, a rumor appears that makes people stop talking about the next iPhone and start dreaming about the one after that. That's exactly what's happening right now.
While many Apple fans are looking forward to the iPhone 18 Pro, attention is slowly shifting toward something much bigger: Apple's rumored 20th Anniversary iPhone expected in 2027. If the reports are accurate, this could be the most dramatic iPhone redesign since the iPhone X changed the smartphone industry back in 2017.
And that creates an unusual question for buyers: if Apple is planning a revolutionary iPhone just a year later, will the iPhone 18 Pro still feel exciting?
If you're also interested in upcoming smartphone launches this year, don't miss our detailed guide on June 2026 smartphone launches, covering expected devices from major brands and their rumored specifications.
Quick Guide
- iPhone 18 Pro is expected to launch before Apple's rumored anniversary model.
- Reports suggest the 20th Anniversary iPhone could feature a nearly bezel-less display.
- Under-display Face ID is one of the most discussed rumored upgrades.
- Battery life improvements may come from new battery technology and internal redesigns.
- The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to focus on refinement, while the anniversary model could focus on innovation.
- Apple has not officially confirmed any details about a 2027 anniversary iPhone.
The Biggest Upgrade Could Be the Display
For years, Apple has been gradually moving toward a cleaner and more immersive display design. The notch introduced with the iPhone X eventually evolved into the Dynamic Island, but the dream of a truly uninterrupted screen has never disappeared.
The rumored 20th Anniversary iPhone could finally bring Apple closer to that vision. Reports suggest the company is exploring technologies that would place Face ID sensors beneath the display, eliminating the need for visible cutouts. Some rumors even point to an under-display front camera, allowing the entire front of the device to function as one seamless screen.
If that happens, the difference could be immediately noticeable. Watching videos, browsing photos, and playing games would feel more immersive without a notch or Dynamic Island occupying screen space. It may sound like a small change on paper, but design improvements often have the biggest impact on everyday use.
Even as Apple works on future display technologies, users can already unlock several useful capabilities through iOS 26's lesser-known features and enhancements.
By comparison, the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to refine Apple's current design rather than completely reinvent it. While refinements are important, Apple fans are often most excited when a new device feels genuinely different from what came before.
The iPhone has come a long way over the last two decades, but the overall design has remained surprisingly familiar. Even today's flagship models still follow the same formula—flat sides, visible bezels, camera cutouts, and a display that isn't truly edge-to-edge. The rumored anniversary iPhone could finally change that.
According to recent reports from industry analysts and Apple supply chain sources, the company may be preparing a major redesign for its 20th Anniversary iPhone in 2027., Apple is exploring a nearly all-screen design with extremely thin bezels and technology hidden beneath the display. The goal appears simple but ambitious: create an iPhone that feels like a sheet of glass in your hand.
Imagine watching a movie, scrolling social media, or playing a game without any visible camera cutout interrupting the screen. It's the kind of futuristic design Apple fans have imagined for years, and 2027 may finally be the moment it becomes reality.
That doesn't mean the iPhone 18 Pro will be boring. In fact, leaks suggest it could be one of the most technically advanced iPhones Apple has ever released. Reports indicate Apple may move Face ID components under the display, reducing the size of the Dynamic Island and creating a cleaner front design.
The camera system is also expected to receive major upgrades, continuing Apple's focus on computational photography and video performance. Combined with a more powerful processor and efficiency improvements, the iPhone 18 Pro could easily become one of the best smartphones of its generation. The challenge is perception.
When people know a potentially revolutionary redesign is waiting just around the corner, even impressive upgrades can suddenly feel like stepping stones toward something bigger.
Long-time Apple fans may remember what happened before the launch of the iPhone X.
The iPhone 8 was an excellent smartphone. It was fast, reliable, and refined. Yet much of the excitement disappeared because everyone knew the iPhone X represented the future of Apple's vision.
History could repeat itself.
The iPhone 18 Pro may end up being an incredible device, but the 20th Anniversary iPhone could become the model people remember years later. Not because it is faster or has a slightly better camera, but because it fundamentally changes how the iPhone looks and feels.
Sometimes technology isn't just about specifications. Sometimes it's about creating a product that makes people say, "Wow, I've never seen anything like this before."
Will Battery Life Finally Take a Big Leap?
Battery life has become one of the most important factors for smartphone users, yet it is often overshadowed by camera upgrades and processor improvements. While Apple continues to improve efficiency with each new generation, many users still hope for a significant leap in battery performance rather than just an extra hour or two of usage.
That's one reason the rumored 20th Anniversary iPhone is generating so much interest. Industry reports suggest Apple could be exploring new battery technologies and internal design changes that allow for greater energy density without dramatically increasing the size of the device. If those reports prove accurate, users could see longer screen-on time, improved gaming performance, and better battery endurance during intensive tasks such as video recording and AI-powered features.
A larger battery would also help support Apple's growing focus on artificial intelligence. As smartphones handle more on-device AI processing, power efficiency becomes increasingly important. A next-generation battery system could ensure that advanced features do not come at the cost of battery life.
The iPhone 18 Pro is still expected to deliver battery improvements through a more efficient chipset and software optimizations. However, the rumored anniversary model could represent a bigger step forward, potentially offering the kind of all-day battery performance that many users have been requesting for years.
Of course, Apple has not officially confirmed any of these details, and battery specifications remain purely speculative at this stage. Still, the possibility of a major battery upgrade is one of the reasons some Apple fans are already looking beyond the iPhone 18 Pro and toward what could arrive in 2027.
While many of the anniversary iPhone rumors remain speculative, earlier reports have already hinted at several upgrades expected to arrive with the iPhone 18 lineup, giving us a clearer picture of Apple's short-term plans.