By Atoyebi Nike
Apple is preparing a three-year refresh of the iPhone line beginning this September and running through 2027, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The first step will be the iPhone 17 Air, a slimmer, lighter device positioned as the “thin” option in the lineup. The model may come with trade-offs such as shorter battery life and the removal of the physical SIM slot, accelerating Apple’s push toward eSIM-only devices. It is also expected to debut Apple’s first in-house cellular modem, replacing Qualcomm chips.
Apple is also considering a new bumper-style case reminiscent of the iPhone 4 era.
Looking ahead, the company is developing a book-style foldable iPhone under codename V68, slated for 2027. The device is designed to open into a compact tablet and will feature four cameras, Touch ID instead of Face ID, and eSIM-only connectivity.
That same year, Apple is expected to roll out a core iPhone design reset, built around curved glass and aligned with the upcoming “Liquid Glass” aesthetic in iOS 26. The company may also adopt a bold naming shift to “iPhone 20,” tying the release to the product’s 20th anniversary in 2028.
Together, the strategy highlights Apple’s intent to tighten hardware-software integration, drive eSIM adoption, and position its own modem technology at the center of future iPhones.
