Talk of a special-edition iPhone with an all-glass body and quad-curved edges has been circulating for a while, often framed as a flashy one-off model made to celebrate a milestone. Now, new reporting suggests Apple’s upcoming 20th anniversary iPhone may be more than just a limited celebration device. Instead, it could kick off a new design direction for the iPhone Pro lineup, much like the iPhone X did when it reshaped the look of future iPhones.
According to a report citing analyst Jeff Pu, the standout features expected for the 20th anniversary iPhone may carry over into later iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max models. That includes a design with quad-curved edges—where the display curves on all sides for a more seamless, wraparound feel—and even an under-display front camera. If this happens, Apple’s premium iPhones could move toward a cleaner, more uninterrupted screen experience, reducing the need for visible cutouts.
Apple has done something similar before. In 2017, the iPhone X arrived as the 10th anniversary iPhone and introduced a new design language that influenced the models that followed. That shift eventually reached both standard and higher-end devices to create a unified look across the lineup. This time, however, the rumored 20th anniversary redesign may remain exclusive to the Pro and Pro Max tiers, at least initially.
That approach would make sense. A quad-curved, all-glass iPhone design would likely be more complicated to engineer and more expensive to manufacture than today’s designs. Glass-heavy construction and advanced display shaping can increase production costs, and it’s still unclear how much that would affect pricing for future Pro models. If these features become standard on Pro and Pro Max devices, consumers may see the premium segment push even further into ultra-high-end territory.
The special anniversary iPhone is expected to be unveiled next year. It’s also rumored to use COE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) display technology, which can enable thinner panels, higher brightness, and improved power efficiency. While Apple hasn’t officially confirmed any 20th anniversary iPhone plans, the redesign speculation has gained traction alongside separate claims that Apple is working with Samsung on an “equal-depth quad-curved” display panel—suggesting the hardware development required for this kind of design may already be in motion.
If the rumors hold up, the 20th anniversary iPhone may not just celebrate Apple’s past—it could define what the next generation of iPhone Pro design looks like.
