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Apple’s Three-Year Plan: Reinventing the iPhone by 2027

Apple is not playing around; it is planning for the distant future with the skill of a chess master. The company currently appears to be in the middle of an ambitious “three-year plan” aimed at redefining the form and essence of the iPhone as we know it. According to renowned leaker Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, this plan is not just about routine annual updates, but a comprehensive overhaul of the design and technical identity of the world’s most popular device, led by John Ternus, the man many see as Tim Cook’s successor for the CEO position.

From Phonegram: Two modern smartphones are shown from the back, both bearing the Apple logo; one is equipped with a triple camera array, and the other with a single camera - as it reinvents the iPhone with innovative designs.


The Beginning of the Journey: iPhone 17 and the Slim Air Version

The plan already set its foundation in September 2025 with the launch of the iPhone 17 family. Apple decided to change the rules of the game by introducing a completely new design for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models, utilizing aluminum in the chassis with a “plateau” design that houses the three rear cameras, in addition to a back glass reinforced with Ceramic Shield specifically for MagSafe accessories.

From Phonegram: Hands holding two iPhones with glowing edges highlighting their evolution; the left hand features a single rear camera, and the right features a triple setup - both proudly displaying Apple logos as it reinvents the iPhone.

But the real star was the iPhone 17 Air, which arrived to prove that thinness is not just a number, but an engineering challenge that Apple succeeded in, making this device the thinnest iPhone in history. This trend toward thinness and structural change paves the way for what is to come, as Apple seems to want to shed everything unnecessary to provide a pure visual experience.


2026: The Year the iPhone Finally Folds

If you think foldable phones are just a temporary trend, Apple has a different opinion. Expectations suggest that September 2026 will witness the birth of the first foldable iPhone, which will open like a book to provide a massive 7.7-inch internal screen and a 5.3-inch external screen. This device will not just be a folding phone; it will be like having a small iPad in your pocket.

From Phonegram: A hand holding a foldable iPhone displaying a colorful gradient lock screen with the time set to 19:27.

Apple is working on developing iOS 27 to support exclusive features for this device, including the ability to run apps side-by-side and the multitasking we are accustomed to in iPadOS. Although reports indicate that Apple is trying to minimize screen “creasing” as much as possible, it is focusing more on performance; analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the device to come with two rear cameras and a power button that supports Touch ID instead of Face ID.


2027: The 20th Anniversary and the Flawless Design

In 2027, Apple will celebrate twenty years since the launch of the first iPhone, and the celebration is expected to be exceptional with the release of the “dream” version. With this model, Apple aims to reach the perfect design: a single, seamless piece of curved glass with no openings or bumps on the screen. The dream here lies in placing the front camera and sensors entirely under the display.

From Phonegram: A person holding a smartphone displaying the home screen with various app icons and widgets, against a blurred outdoor background, illustrating how Apple is reinventing the iPhone to keep pace with the latest innovations.

Achieving this ambitious design would mean that Apple has finally reached the destination it has been seeking for years: a “screen-only” device in your hands. Thanks to the staggering financial figures the company has achieved recently, with iPhone revenue alone reaching $85.2 billion in a single quarter, it seems the company has all the resources necessary to turn these dreams into a tangible reality and continue the momentum that Tim Cook describes as “amazing.”

After seeing this plan… do you think a foldable iPhone is what Apple is currently missing?

Source:

macrumors.com

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