Apple Rumored to Redesign the iPhone Every Year Through to 2027

[ab2c4]

Let me know when the rounded sides and edges come back, otherwise, I'm not interested.

Also, what they are doing to the back camera area this year is such a small change I don't consider that a redesign at all.

 

[RVijay007]

Cool, upgrade 2027 it is then

2028, never buy the v1 of significant changes.

 

[citysnaps]

Sounds good to me.

 

[Mousse]

Apple is reportedly preparing to implement significant iPhone hardware redesigns each year for the next three generations.

Sounds more like Apple has already redesigned the iPhone, they're just spreading out the changes across 3 years. Apple drip feeding features...again.😐 It's like Peter Jackson turning The Hobbit into a 3 movie trilogy.

Why can't Apple be like Leo Tolstoy? He gave us one huge (_!_) book, War and Peace, that easily could have been 5 books (5 interlocking narratives.)

 

[drrich2]

I'd like a 10x optical 'zoom' telephoto option. One of the key uses for my 12 Pro Max (which I'm quite happy with) is as a carry around camera, so adding a powerful telephoto option that makes wildlife photography more accessible would be a nice feature for some.

Now also add underscreen touch-id and I'm happy.

- Bring back touch id under the screen.

What is the point of touch I.D. when Face I.D. works well?

Apple has lost so much steam in their growth they are abandoning their tried and true hardware design principles to become like every other manufacturer that just throws a new form factor at the wall every year to see what sticks.

The problem is, when Apple doesn't change form every so often they get flack. I see this in discussions about their notebook computers, the idea that a given Mac design is 'tired' or 'boring' because it hasn't changed much in years. So what? A design that works well...works well! But there seems to be a segment of the user base enthused about change, seemingly for the sake of change. The 'trash can' MacPro, the 'cheese grater' MacPro, iMac thinness, fascination with the smaller form factor of the M4 Mac Minis...yes, sometimes a new form factor has substantial advantages for some users, but all too often it seems like change for the sake of change. IIRC, I've seen posts by people holding off on purchasing a new system because they're waiting for a 'refresh.' Not a specific anticipated feature (e.g.: OLED screen), just a refresh.

I don't know the specifics of the hardware design principles you mentioned, but I hope they include making things better when there's a need, not just different to be 'fresh.'

When a product segment matures as the iPhone has, there comes a time when form changes may have more to do with marketing than technological breakthroughs. I'm curious to see how that shakes out with the anticipated foldable iPhone (I don't want one), which sounds like an iPhone/iPad Mini hybrid where when you fold you double the thickness and it'll be harder to design protective cases for, plus expensive! Maybe it'll be great for some and I don't begrudge them access; I just wonder how much of the hype will blow over when people experience the reality.

 

[eatrains]

Maybe they'll figure out that a mobile device should fit in your hand.

 

[reyesmac]

So I guess people unwilling to spend over a grand for a phone will be owning a truly full screen iPhone in what? 6 years? Apple better slow down, it's innovating so fast.

 

[kingalexthe1st]

How much do you want to bet this year's cosmetic 'wide camera bump' is going to end up being a small screen (eg for notifications) in an eventual clam-shell foldable

 

[Rodney Williams]

I'm in the same boat. Over the last six or seven months I've upgraded to 16PM, iPad Mini 7 and M4 MBP, so I'm on the sidelines for awhile unless Apple comes at me with a serious "Wow!" release, which I honestly can't see happening.

I agree. I've already got me and wifey an M3 Pro MacBook Pro 16 inch just months right before the M4 MacBook Pro lineup came out. The M3 Pro MacBook Pro performs just like we expected without a hiccup. So we're definitely not worrying about the MacBook Pro no time soon. We're good for the long haul.

 

[The Game 161]

Seems very un like apple to do this but lets see

 

[Jashar7]

My 12 Pro Max is 5 years old, looks and performs just as good as the latest. At least it looks older then because none of these gimmicks will make a significant difference and you'll forget about them on day 1.

It definitely doesn’t perform “just as good” as the latest let’s be honest here, the crappy 60hz display, the big wide notch, poor battery, mid camera, like we need to stop this nonsense calling 3-4 years old devices as good and comparable to latest new ones.

 

[bergert]

The analyst says, that there is a super-secret until 2027 I will get older every year.

 

[UliBaer]

Seems very un like apple to do this but lets see

What?! Apple is well known for drip feeding new features to elongate the gravy train...

It definitely doesn’t perform “just as good” as the latest let’s be honest here, the crappy 60hz display, the big wide notch, poor battery, mid camera, like we need to stop this nonsense calling 3-4 years old devices as good and comparable to latest new ones.

If the "latest" iPhone doesn't do my jobs on my phone better than my old iPhone 12 Pro, than it is really only "just as good" as my old one!

 

[svish]

Expecting the 20th anniversary model to be special. As for 2026 iPhones, think the Pro models will have a hole punch cut out instead of the pill but I think it will still be in the center. For this year's Pro models, hopefully it will have a much better front facing camera along with 48MP telephoto lens. Hope that the zoom lens will not be reduced to 3.5x

 

[thiscatisfat]

Just give me a Mini-sized iPhone again but with Pro features this time. We need an actual iPhone, not an iPhablet. I don't need 5 cameras, I don't need giga-sized lenses, I need something I can fit in my pocket comfortably. I really love the iPhone 5 design, it was perfect. You put in your pocket and completely forget it's there. Not everyone needs their phone for "content consumption", that's what handhelds like Phablets and Tablets are for..I need an iPhone.

 

[Jashar7]

What?! Apple is well known for drip feeding new features to elongate the gravy train...

If the "latest" iPhone doesn't do my jobs on my phone better than my old iPhone 12 Pro, than it is really only "just as good" as my old one!

But that doesn’t change the fact that is better and has more advanced hardware, faster, better cameras, better display technology like it doesn’t matter what your opinion is or experience it’s facts on paper broski.

 

[GIZBUG]

Apple has to do something so people keep buying phones. Upgrading the camera every year and minor battery bumps isn’t working for consumers

 

[thiscatisfat]

But that doesn’t change the fact that is better and has more advanced hardware, faster, better cameras, better display technology like it doesn’t matter what your opinion is or experience it’s facts on paper broski.

I had a 12 Mini and now have a 14 Pro, and apart from Pro Motion I haven't noticed any difference in my day to day use of the phone, except that one of them I could hardly feel in my pocket and the other one is a brick and pulls my pants down. They can be getting better and faster, but how much faster does it really need to get? How many giga-sized lenses do you need before you finally buy a standalone camera? How much better can a display get in the next two-three years? Honestly, none of the "upgrades" are that big of a deal anymore, so they start adding stupid touch sensitive buttons like the action button and some new fancy colour. What else can you do to an iPhone to make it "new".

 

[subjonas]

I think variation in phone design is too limited for me to care that much. Historically the variations have basically just been:
Material
Color
Flat or rounded edges
Placement of cameras
Size of bezels
Cut outs if no bezels
Size of phone?

Actually I do care about these variations, but only from a functional standpoint, not aesthetic, meaning I have a preference for each and I don’t want them to ever change.

It’s not like car design where you can really play with shapes and there are many many more variations. The overall shape of a phone will always be a flat rectangle, as it should be. I’m fine with its design not changing, in fact I prefer it not changing when it messes with function. I’m much more interested in progression in function.

 

[thiscatisfat]

I think variation in phone design is too limited for me to care that much. Historically the variations have basically just been:
Material
Color
Flat or rounded edges
Placement of cameras
Size of bezels
Cut outs if no bezels
Size of phone?

Actually I do care about these variations, but only from a functional standpoint, not aesthetic, meaning I have a preference for each and I don’t want them to ever change.

It’s not like car design where you can really play with shapes and there are many many more variations. The overall shape of a phone will always be a flat rectangle, as it should be. I’m fine with its design not changing, in fact I prefer it not changing when it messes with function. I’m much more interested in progression in function.

Your post made me think of Nokia and their Y2K era designs, phone designs are kind of boring nowadays aren’t they?

 

[BGrifter]

Hopefully one of the redesigns includes a pocket-sized iPhone.

It’s getting harder to find JNCOs to carry around an iPhone 16.

 

[akula1488]

just do this every 9 years
3 years of stainless steel, 3 years of titanium and 3 years of aluminum.

 

[subjonas]

Your post made me think of Nokia and their Y2K era designs, phone designs are kind of boring nowadays aren’t they?

Hahah yeah those Nokias were a lot of fun, but not being smartphones they had more room for variation. They didn’t have to be one big touch screen, so they could play with the shape of the phone more as well as with button design etc, especially aftermarket accessories. I was obsessed with the switch slide cover Nokia from the Matrix movie, but could never find the aftermarket version.

 

[UpsetTheAppleCart]

Cool! If that prevents people from constantly complaining about innovation then I’m all for it.

 

[yabeweb]

Do you have an iPhone 16 Pro Max? How do you know your 5 year old 12PM is "just as good as the latest"?
I had a 13 PM and now have a 16PM and the 16PM is better.

Not everyone uses the camera that much, I for one barely use it and mainly for PDF scanning, the megapixel are nice, but not the main reason for everyone to update the phone.