Apple is embarking on an ambitious three-year plan to reinvent its iconic iPhone lineup, with a series of transformative designs set to redefine the smartphone landscape.
According to Mark Gurman’s detailed column, the overhaul kicks off in 2025 with the iPhone Air, drawing inspiration from the MacBook Air’s 2008 strategy: a focus on thinness and lightness, albeit with compromises.
This will be followed by a groundbreaking foldable iPhone in 2026 and a curved-glass iPhone 20 in 2027, marking a significant departure from Apple’s typically cautious approach to hardware evolution.
iPhone Air: Thinness with Trade-Offs
The journey begins with the iPhone Air in 2025, a slimmed-down model that replaces the iPhone Plus, echoing the MacBook Air’s early emphasis on portability over raw power. To achieve its ultra-thin profile, Apple will make notable sacrifices: a single rear camera, reduced battery life, and the absence of a physical SIM slot.
A standout feature will be the debut of Apple’s first in-house modem chip, a move away from Qualcomm’s dominance.
While this initial modem will lag behind Qualcomm’s offerings in performance, it represents a critical step in Apple’s long-term goal of self-reliance in cellular technology.
The Modem Milestone
The modem’s development is the linchpin of this narrative. Since acquiring Intel’s modem business for $1 billion in 2019, Apple has been working to build its own cellular technology. The first version, slated for the iPhone Air, will be a modest start, but by 2026, the company plans to introduce the C2 chip. This second-generation modem is expected to rival Qualcomm’s latest standards, showcasing Apple’s rapid progress. The C2 will power the highly anticipated foldable iPhone, codenamed V68 — a nod to Motorola’s iconic V-series foldables — highlighting Apple’s intent to integrate cutting-edge tech into its next big leap.
Foldable iPhone: A Late but Promising Entry
In 2026, Apple will enter the foldable phone market with the V68, a category it has long observed from the sidelines as pioneers like Samsung and Google encountered challenges.
The device will feature a book-style design, opening into a tablet-sized screen, and aims to outshine competitors with a nearly invisible screen crease — a stark contrast to the noticeable folds on Samsung and Pixel models.
However, Apple’s decision to replace Face ID with Touch ID raises eyebrows.
Whether this is a technical limitation due to the foldable form factor or a deliberate design choice remains unclear, but it signals a potential shift in authentication strategy.
Apple’s late arrival could prove advantageous, as the company often refines categories others have pioneered.
If the V68 delivers a seamless folding experience and leverages the C2 modem’s capabilities, it might set a new benchmark, much like the original iPhone did for smartphones.
iPhone 20: A Glass Revolution in 2027
The plan culminates in 2027 with the iPhone 20, a 20th-anniversary model featuring curved glass edges that break from the flat-edged design since 2020. This all-glass aesthetic could align with a rumored “Liquid Glass” interface for iOS, promising a futuristic look and feel. Beyond design, Apple may address lingering issues with Siri and broader AI integration by this point. However, whether the company will rely on its own AI advancements or partner with external providers like Google or OpenAI remains uncertain, reflecting ongoing debates about its AI strategy.
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A Calculated Risk
This three-year roadmap underscores Apple’s willingness to take risks, balancing innovation with practicality. The iPhone Air’s compromises, the foldable’s untested waters, and the iPhone 20’s bold design suggest a company aiming to recapture the “wow” factor that defined its early iPhone era. Yet, success hinges on execution — overcoming technical hurdles and consumer skepticism about trade-offs like battery life and authentication shifts. If Apple nails this reinvention, it could solidify its dominance; if not, it risks ceding ground to agile competitors. The next three years will be a defining chapter for the iPhone’s legacy.
