According to Mark Gurman, Apple is in the midst of a multi-year redesign strategy aimed at fundamentally changing how the iPhone looks and functions.
The “three-year reinvention” plan
Apple isn’t doing one big redesign—it’s spreading changes across three generations of iPhones, gradually evolving toward a more futuristic design.
Phase 1 (already underway)
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Refinements to current design language
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Smaller changes to elements like the Dynamic Island
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Early steps toward reducing visible sensors
Phase 2 (next major step)
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Further shrinking or partially hiding Face ID components
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Potentially a much smaller Dynamic Island
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Cleaner, more immersive display
Phase 3 (end goal)
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A true all-screen iPhone
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No visible cutouts or camera holes
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Fully under-display sensors (Face ID + camera)
This is the long-term vision Apple is building toward.
Why Apple is doing this
The goal is to:
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Maximize screen real estate
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Remove visual distractions
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Create a more seamless, “glass slab” experience
This aligns with Apple’s historical design direction—gradually removing:
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Buttons
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Ports
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Bezels
Where current models fit
Devices like the upcoming:
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iPhone 18 Pro
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Potential foldable / iPhone Ultra
…are expected to represent midway points in this transition rather than the final vision.
What to keep in mind
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These are long-term roadmap insights, not final confirmed features
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Technical challenges (especially under-display cameras) are still significant
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Apple tends to prioritize quality over rushing new tech, so timelines can shift
Bottom line
Apple’s iPhone design is entering a gradual transformation phase, not a single redesign moment. Over the next few years, expect:
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Smaller cutouts
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More hidden components
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Eventually, a fully uninterrupted display
If you want, I can map out exactly which features are expected in each iPhone generation based on current leaks—it’s actually a pretty clear progression now.
Apple’s 3-year iPhone reinvention (decoded)
2025 — Foundation shift
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iPhone 17 Pro redesign
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Introduction of iPhone Air
What changed:
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New “plateau” camera design
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Aluminum + glass rework
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Ultra-thin form factor (Air)
This phase is about resetting the design language.
2026 — Form factor leap
- Launch of foldable iPhone Ultra
Expected highlights:
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Book-style fold (like Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7)
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~7.7" inner / ~5.3" outer display
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iPad-style multitasking in iOS 27
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Touch ID instead of Face ID
This is Apple entering a completely new category, not just iterating.
2027 — The “vision” device
- 20th-anniversary iPhone
Ambition:
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Fully edge-to-edge display
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No cutouts (no notch, no Dynamic Island)
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Under-display camera
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Curved glass body
This is the end goal: a true “all-screen slab.”
What Apple is really doing here
This isn’t random—it’s a layered strategy:
1. Change the outside (2025)
New materials + form factors (Air)
2. Change how you use it (2026)
Foldables → multitasking, new behaviors
3. Remove all visual barriers (2027)
Seamless display → futuristic design
Who’s driving this
The roadmap being a “priority” for John Ternus is important.
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He leads hardware engineering
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Seen as successor to Tim Cook
This suggests the redesign isn’t experimental—it’s core to Apple’s long-term direction.
Reality check (important)
Some of this is ambitious to the point of risk:
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Under-display cameras still struggle with quality
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Foldables have durability and crease issues
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Apple dropping Face ID (even temporarily) is a big shift
Apple will delay features rather than ship something subpar—so timelines could slip.
Why Apple is pushing this now
With iPhone revenue hitting record highs, Apple isn’t reacting to ضعف—it’s preventing stagnation.
Foldables + radical redesigns help:
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Justify higher prices ($2,000+ devices)
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Create new upgrade cycles
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Compete with Samsung and others experimenting faster
Bottom line
Apple’s plan is surprisingly coherent:
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2025: Redesign the look
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2026: Redefine the form
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2027: Perfect the vision
If it all lands, the 2027 iPhone could be the biggest design leap since the iPhone X.