It’s 2027 and you have Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone in your hand. No bezels, no visible seams, no ports – just a continuous slab of glass that flows seamlessly from front to back. Does it sound like science fiction? Bloomberg reports that Apple is quietly laying the groundwork for this radical design change, and hints are already appearing in iOS 26. The information confirms that at least one iPhone model launching in 2027 will feature a truly edge-to-edge display with the front camera and Face ID hidden beneath the screen. Meanwhile, new features in iOS 26, like Safari’s Liquid Glass design, are already preparing us for this glassy future.
What you need to know: Apple is planning a two-stage transition to a full-screen iPhone, starting with smaller changes in 2025 and culminating with a revolutionary glass-dominated design by 2027. The software is already hinting at this direction through iOS 26’s glass-themed interface elements.
The vision behind the glass: Jony Ive’s unfinished dream
Here’s the thing about Apple’s obsession with glass: it’s not new. Former Apple design chief Jony Ive long dreamed of an iPhone with a truly all-screen design, envisioning what he called “a single slab of glass.” But why does this matter now when it didn’t matter a decade ago?
The answer lies in what this design unlocks. It’s not just about aesthetics: Removing bezels fundamentally changes the way users interact with their device, enabling new gesture controls and immersive experiences that current iPhones can’t support. When the entire surface of your device becomes a functional touchscreen, you can implement contextual controls that appear exactly where your fingers naturally rest.
The 2017 iPhone X was Apple’s first big step toward this concept, but current iPhones still have bezels around the screen. Apple has now been granted a patent for a possible all-glass design that features screens on both sides, as well as functional touchscreen buttons on the edges; basically, screens on all six sides of the device.
This connects to Apple’s broader ecosystem strategy of creating seamless interaction models. Just as AirPods eliminated the cognitive burden of managing wired connections, an all-glass iPhone eliminates the mental mapping of where different interface elements are located on your device.
PRO TIP: Keep an eye on software updates for your iPhone. iOS 26’s glass-themed design elements aren’t just aesthetic choices — they’re preparing your muscle memory for a completely different type of device interaction.
Why glass manufacturing is finally ready for prime time
The technology that makes this possible is finally meeting Apple’s ambitions. Corning’s ultra-thin flexible glass can now flex, flip, fold and even roll while maintaining structural integrity. More importantly, Corning’s VtG innovation features thinner glass at the hinge points and thicker sections in the “wings,” allowing for effortless flexibility and greater durability compared to monolithic thickness pieces.
But here’s the catch: Ultra-thin glass less than 0.5mm thick requires advanced manufacturing techniques such as chemical strengthening and precision pull-down processes, increasing production costs by about 30% compared to conventional coverslip. A standard 0.7mm glass cover panel costs OEMs approximately $2.50 to $3.80 per unit, while ultra-thin variants range from $4.20 to $6.50.
The reward? Ultra-thin glass helps recover up to 15% of internal volume compared to traditional coverslip, and devices using it achieve 7°C lower operating temperatures due to better heat dissipation. It’s not just about aesthetics: it’s about making room for larger batteries and better performance, while also solving the thermal management challenges that have plagued high-performance smartphones.
The two-stage launch: what to expect and when
This gradual approach isn’t just about technical readiness: Apple creates refresh cycles that maintain premium prices while competitors bring half-baked foldable products to market. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple will start with the iPhone 17 in 2025, which is expected to feature a smaller Dynamic Island.
By 2026, iPhone 18 Pro models will reportedly have Face ID below the screen, leaving only a small hole for the front camera. Then comes the revolution: the iPhone 20 from 2027 (which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the iPhone) is expected to bring both Face ID and the front camera completely hidden under the screen.
These aren’t just engineering puzzles: Each represents a potential deal-breaker for Apple’s quality standards that Samsung and Google might accept but Apple won’t. Samsung Display and LG Display are developing thin film encapsulation processes to protect OLED panels from moisture and oxygen, as well as optical clear adhesive technology to bond curved display elements. OCA development is hitting roadblocks due to distortion issues when viewed from the side: Apple doesn’t want the magnifying glass effect that some Samsung phones with curved edges had.
What makes this strategy brilliant is the competitive moat it creates. While other manufacturers focus on incremental spec improvements, Apple is fundamentally reimagining what a smartphone can be. By the time competitors respond to the all-glass iPhone, Apple will already be defining the next paradigm.
Don’t miss: The iPhone 17 Air, launching in September, could be our first taste of this glass-filled future. Rumors suggest it will be around 6mm thick or less and weigh just 145 grams.
Where iOS 26 fits into Apple’s Glass strategy
The software side is already laying the groundwork and the strategy here is particularly sophisticated. iOS 26 introduces Safari’s new Liquid Glass design and reports suggest the entire interface takes inspiration from visionOS with glass-like buttons that have reflective edges.
This software preparation solves Apple’s biggest design transition challenge: user adoption. Previous major changes to the iPhone, such as the removal of the home button, created learning curves that delayed mass adoption. In 2027, users will already be thinking in crystal metaphors. The Vision Pro headset’s operating system already features glass-like interface elements with high levels of depth and translucency, and this design language is flowing from Apple’s newest platform to the iPhone.
The Liquid Glass interface isn’t just aesthetic: it reduces the cognitive load of gesture-based controls that physical buttons can’t support. When the edges of your phone become functional touch surfaces, the software needs to communicate depth, pressure sensitivity, and contextual actions through visual design cues.
iOS 26 is currently in beta testing on upcoming iPhone 17 models, which will ship with this glass-inspired interface. By 2027, the software experience will be completely natural: users will not need to learn how to interact with an all-glass device because they will already master the language.
Conclusion: Glass is the future (if Apple can make it happen)
So what does all this mean for your next iPhone purchase? If you plan to upgrade in 2025, the iPhone 17 series will give you a taste of this glass future with improved displays and the new Liquid Glass interface. All four iPhone 17 models are expected to get ProMotion technology with 120Hz refresh rates, along with an upgraded 24-megapixel front camera.
But the real revolution will come in 2027. Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone promises to be the culmination of nearly a decade of work toward Jony Ive’s original vision. The full-screen design will likely be reserved for higher-end models, and one analyst predicts the price could top $2,000 for what could be called the “Glasswing iPhone.”
It’s not just about Apple making a prettier phone, it’s about establishing the design language that will define the next decade of mobile computing, in the same way that the original iPhone’s multi-touch interface eliminated physical keyboards across the industry. Technical hurdles around waterproofing, antenna performance and durability remain significant. But Corning’s investment in flexible glass manufacturing and Apple’s methodical approach suggest this vision will become a reality.
When your iPhone finally becomes that single slab of glass, it won’t just change the way devices look, it will change the way we think about the boundary between digital and physical interaction. And honestly? After seeing iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design in action, that future can’t come soon enough.