Apple is expected to revamp its iPhone lineup in 2026 with the introduction of the iPhone Fold, but a new pair of leaks alleges near-yearly changes for Apple through 2028 that could leave the iPhone lineup in a far different place.
This is believable because 2027 will be the 20th anniversary of the release of the original iPhone. Much like Apple released the iPhone X for the 10th anniversary in 2017, a new rumor promises a rebrand in 2027 for the iPhone 19 series.
According to the Korean publication ETNews, the analyst firm Omdia believes Apple will release the 2027 iPhone family as the "iPhone 20."
"Apple will release the iPhone 18e and iPhone 20 in the first half of 2027, and the iPhone 20 Air, Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Fold 2 in the second half," Heo Moo-yeol, a senior researcher at Omdia, reportedly said at a conference in Seoul this week.
If it proves true, that would contradict a recent report claiming that the iPhone Fold may be delayed into 2027.
It's possible this could be a way for Apple to reset the iPhone brand in 2027, especially with the rumored split release schedule. It is surprising that Heo is claiming that Apple will release its vanilla iPhone 20 earlier, whereas the current rumors have the iPhone 18 releasing with the iPhone 18e the following spring.
2028 may be the more interesting year, though.
Coming in 2028: A flip iPhone?
It's only been in the last year that the rumor mill started repeatedly discussing a book-style foldable iPhone. As far back as 2015, the initial rumors about a foldable iPhone, the iPhone Flip, suggested a handset more akin to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 or the Motorola Razr Ultra.
The latest rumor, once again via ETNews, claims a "flip design" will debut in 2028. The prediction comes from the market research firm Stone Partners during a "Tech Summit" hosted by ETNews in Seoul.
"A clamshell-type foldable iPhone will appear in 2028," Kim Ki-hyun, a director at the firm, said. According to Kim, the clamshell iPhone will feature an under-display camera and several display features like low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO), color filter on encapsulation (COE), and glass mid-frame.
Additionally, Apple is supposedly going to introduce LTPO+ in 2027 with the 20th anniversary phones, a technology first introduced on Apple devices in the Apple Watch Ultra 3 this year.
He went on to assert that Apple will introduce four-sided bending technology, which is supposed to enable bezel-less displays.
Lastly, Kim predicted that Apple would extend OLED adoption to the iPad mini in 2026 and the iPad Air in 2027. Next year's MacBook Pros should finally get OLED displays as well.
By that point, Apple's rumored giant foldable iPad could finally make its release after reportedly hitting the wall this year.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
