Speculation surrounding Apple's next iPhone has become a perennial event, with whispers often surfacing well over a year before the anticipated model is officially unveiled. This year, the focus is on the iPhone 17 series, which is expected to be announced in September. Numerous reports indicate that significant design changes are in store for the Pro models, alongside the introduction of an impressively slim iPhone.

However, the most recent buzz does not pertain to this year's release or even next year's; instead, it hints at the highly anticipated 20th anniversary iPhone model, slated for arrival in 2027. This special release is rumored to come alongside a potential folding iPhone. According to the latest insights from Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, as reported by MacRumors, the upcoming iPhone Pro may feature a 'bold' design, integrating more glass into its architecture than its predecessors.

While 2027 may seem like a long way off, the prospect of Apple reimagining the iPhone design to commemorate its 20th anniversary is certainly plausible. Reflecting back, for the iPhone's 10th anniversary, Apple made a significant leap with the iPhone X, which notably eliminated the physical Touch ID home button in favor of the innovative Face ID technology, paired with a distinctive notch at the top of the display.

So, what could we expect from the iPhone Pro in 2027? It's conceivable that it could herald a substantial design overhaul similar to what we witnessed with the iPhone X in 2017, though Apple might opt to retain a more conventional design for the standard iPhone model. Former design chief Jony Ive famously envisioned the iPhone as a seamless single pane of glass. Whether this aspirational concept will ever materialize remains uncertain, but it certainly has sparked imaginations.

As we look ahead to the upcoming 20th anniversary, Apple has ample time to experiment with the innovative 'bold' design that Gurman hints at. The iPhone 17 series is set to be unveiled in the latter part of this year, while the iPhone 18 series is expected to make its debut in 2026. If Apple continues with its current naming conventions, one could speculate that the 20th anniversary model might be branded as the iPhone 19 series. However, given the importance of this milestone, it seems more intuitive for Apple to label it as the iPhone 20 to truly encapsulate the significance of the occasion.