From iPhone 17 Air to iPhone 20: Apple's Redesign Timeline

[Big_D]

I have a few questions/concerns regarding this “all glass” iPhone 20:

1) It might be pretty to look at, but functionality-wise is quite useless, as proven by Samsung’s curved screen models. It will become like a thin glassy soap bar. Free AppleCare+ for everybody or a mighty Gorilla-Plus-Pro-You-Shall-Break-Before-Me glass? If now we can fit iPhones with a case or bumper, but it won’t work with this design.

2) A bigger concern is that in 2-3 years time, when it is meant to come, iPhones (and smartphones) might already become a “yesterday’s product”, considering all the current work around smart glasses and Jony Ive’s mystery device with Open AI, meant to come out some time in 2026. So why would I still need this “piece of glass”, when we could be using a totally different class of device by then?

I mean Ive’s dream of a unified piece of glass iPhone sounded very neat 5 years ago, but today?

I agree with the first part, but I don't see phones being replaced soon. 90% of the time I use a phone, I am somewhere where I can't freely talk or I feel too embarrassed to talk to my device and I certainly don't want it spewing out the answers to all and sundry.

Also, with a visual representation of an answer, I can quickly scan it and concentrate on the relevant bits, with audio, I have to listen to the whole lot, or maybe skip backwards and forwards a few seconds, but it isn't as easy, likewise, hitting a reference to something a page earlier, I can quickly scroll back up, but getting back to the relevant part in an audio passage usually takes much longer - it certainly does with podcasts and audio books, especially if you have the phone in a pocket and are reliant on double and triple clicking the button on the earphones...

I think audio will make more and more of a mark going forward, but I still think we will need screens for a long time to come.

 

[iMac The Knife]

"Apple is working on an iPhone with a wraparound display that curves around all of the edges, so there will be no bezels at all. It will look like a single piece of glass, with no squared edges and no cutouts at the front."

Yeah, no.

 

[tim-apple-silicon]

Foldables: tell me that you suck at designing without telling me that you suck at designing

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

One of the reasons people wanted foldable phones was to finally have flip phones again to protect the screen!.

I honestly don't think I've ever heard anyone say this. Also, most flip phones had an outer screen as well. 🤷‍♂️

 

[iMac The Knife]

you see what you did there? You agreed with me while trying to debate me. “Is the bigger real state screen size”… except that has nothing to do with the outer display! Nobody asked for it.

I asked for it. I've owned foldables since the Z Fold 3. I had the Z Flip 4 as my backup phone for about three weeks and it made zero sense with the small outer display it had. I now have the Z Fold 7 and the Z Flip 7 FE for my backup phone and the Z Flip 7 FE is leaps and bounds better than the Z Flip 4 due to the larger and finally usable outer display. A flip style foldable without a usable outer display makes zero sense in today's world.

 

[nt5672]

Hopefully we'll get Apple Intelligence / AI by then too lol.

How about Apple just fixes the 100s of bugs that exist first.

For example, when I restart my Mac and click "remember open apps", it remembers Apps from days and weeks ago, but forgets that I closed them before I restarted, or that I closed them yesterday.

Or how about macOS not remembering window sizes for macOS windows.

Or how about all macOS windows sized for a small iPad and not resizable.

Or ......

We don't need AI, we need common sense bug fixes across all platforms.

 

[Applewatch42]

I think the 17 Air will be the Bendgate scandal over again

 

[Belisama]

Sorry, I'm waiting for the "From iPhone 21 Nitrogen to iPhone 25: Apple's Redesign Timeline".
We already know everything about iPhone 20 🥱.

 

[Applewatch42]

Sorry, I'm waiting for the "From iPhone 21 Nitrogen to iPhone 25: Apple's Redesign Timeline".
We already know everything about iPhone 20 🥱.

haha lol

 

[deathcab]

Just can't give us a parts bin Mini of any kind, 'eh?

Apple typically doesn't kill products that sell well and/or generate meaningful profits for the company. The mini failed to do one or both of those, so I wouldn't expect to see a revival of that form factor any time soon.

 

[jingbugle]

Apart from a flip phone and a foldable phone, no need for any other form factor changes.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Option 1. Don’t drop it.
Option 2. Use a case that covers the sides.
Option 3. Insurance.

What is the point of having a wrap around display if you put a case over the phone?

 

[coreyweberling]

All glass? Um......no thank you. It better be some bullet proof, unbreakable, unscratchable glass.

Only thing I'm interested in is that Apple designed image sensor that they patented that supposedly has 20 stops DR or whatever.

Other than that? Don't care about any of this stuff.

 

[macbookj0e]

I hope we get an iPhone flip in the next 5 years…

 

[Earendil]

Excuse me, it comes out next year, that’s one year away from release, not 2 years away from production.

I assumed you meant the wraparound glass. I suppose “outdoor” display could mean second screen.

 

[Adelphos33]

Holding on to iPhone 16 Pro Max through 2028. Will buy at that point. Great phone.

 

[cdpage]

Not interested in a Folding phone.
Not interested in More glass.

I would like to see is a Wedge design. Lay it down flat with out a case.
6-7mm thick at the top, 5mm at the bottom.
= larger camera capabilities + larger batteries

MagSafe style charger cable

 

[drewzkie]

I've been waiting for the 17 Air for a long time, minimizing bulk in my pockets is an all-time priority for me. I'd become apathetic about upgrades until they announced this. I'll definitely skip the foldable iPhone though, I don't like those designs and it makes for a bulkier device anyway. The 20th anniversary model is compelling though. If my 17 Air is paid off by then maybe I'll move for another upgrade, assuming the pricing isn't too outrageous.

 

[jon9091]

Not at all interested in a foldable phone. I need an iPhone I can wad up in a ball and throw in the trash.

 

[frownface]

Yes, I had a few curved display phones over the years, the experience was always suboptimal. It looks good, until you actually try and use it, or put a case on it...

I had a S6 edge, IMHO still the most gorgeous looking galaxy they ever made. Experience was... not good.

I had a S8. IMHO the second most gorgeous looking galaxy they ever made. Experience was better but still not good.

I also have my wife's old S10+ in the drawer and by that stage they minimised the curved part so much it may as well not be there. Nowadays it's not there at all.

Beatiful phones, but the curve added nothing to functionality

 

[AppleiPhone4lyfe]

No camera bump please!!!!!

 

[AppleNerd 🤓]

Why do you want a wrap-around display? Most people put a case on. So it will never be seen.

Exactly, and if you don’t use a case the second you drop it the whole screen will shatter… but oh well the people who are buying that will have enough money to just get a new one. Good thing it won’t come out in 2030 because Apple won’t allow that because they are going ‘carbon neutral’

 

[Cinnamonmuff]

Prob stick with the 16 pro max. I ain’t buying something made in India

 

[shinkansenwarrior]

2027 sounds good to me.
Will keep my local vendor happy with battery upgrades until then.
20th Anniversary modal is looking good as something more exciting to look forward to compared to recent half baked incremental modal updates. Maybe also a good time to change the captain of the ship.

 

[ThereAre4Lights]

I think they should skip doing a book-style foldable and jump straight to a tri-fold. With book-style, when it's open the screen will have a square aspect ratio, so videos and photos with an aspect ratio of 16:9 or 4:3 are hardly any bigger than when it's closed - you just get bigger black bars. In contrast, with a tri-fold phone the inner screen would have a similar aspect ratio to an iPad, so videos and photos would actually fill the screen, which would be the size of an 10" iPad. Plus you'd get the iPad-style two hand keyboard. See what I mean here:

Finally, with book-style you still need 3 screens but you're always not using at least one, while with tri-fold you can use all 3 screens at the same time.