Apple doesn’t radically redesign the iPhone very often — but when it does, the impact is usually felt across the entire smartphone industry.
Looking back, the most significant design shift came with iPhone X, released in 2017 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the original iPhone.
With iPhone X, Apple:
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Removed the Home button
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Introduced Face ID
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Fully embraced a modern full-screen design
At the time, these changes felt bold and controversial. Today, they are industry standards.
Apple’s “10-Year Milestone” Pattern
Apple’s biggest design leaps tend to align with major anniversaries.
Rather than making drastic changes every year, Apple refines its products gradually — then delivers a major leap when the timing and technology align.
If rumours are accurate, iPhone 20, expected around 2027, could follow the same pattern:
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A symbolic anniversary model
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A design shift that feels futuristic
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Technology that sets the direction for the next decade of iPhones
Why Anniversary iPhones Matter
Anniversary models are more than just new phones. They represent Apple’s vision for the future:
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iPhone X defined the post-Home-button era
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iPhone 20 could define the era of truly uninterrupted displays
A completely cutout-free front would not just improve aesthetics — it could reshape how users interact with their devices and how apps are designed.
Will iPhone 20 Be the Next iPhone X?
History doesn’t repeat itself exactly, but Apple’s design philosophy is remarkably consistent.
If iPhone 20 arrives with a truly full-screen design, it may not feel revolutionary overnight — just like iPhone X didn’t at first. But years later, it could be remembered as another turning point.
Do you think Apple still has another “iPhone X moment” left?
Or has smartphone design already peaked?