Poor Apple—let’s be real, the tech giant can’t seem to catch a break lately. It’s facing flak from all sides: falling behind in the AI race, drawing heat for decisions seen as catering to Donald Trump, and rolling out a string of ads that are… well, surprisingly underwhelming. But the biggest risk to Apple right now? The growing sense that it’s lost its innovative edge, with iPhone updates feeling more like tiny tweaks than meaningful upgrades.
Thankfully, new leaks hint that Apple is gearing up to turn things around over the next three years—and next month’s iPhone launch event is supposed to “lay the groundwork for a once-in-a-generation iPhone revamp.” If these rumors hold water, the iPhone might finally feel exciting again.
First up: It’s all but confirmed that Apple will unveil a new model called the iPhone 17 Air next month, and it’s set to be the slimmest iPhone ever made. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this isn’t just a one-off—it’s paving the way for the iPhone Fold, which is expected to launch next year. A foldable iPhone would be a total departure from the same-old flat design we’ve gotten used to lately, making it potentially the most thrilling iPhone release in years.
But Apple isn’t stopping there. Gurman reports that 2027—marking the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone—will bring yet another brand-new design. The iPhone 20, he says, will feature a curved glass look that “finally moves past the boxy, squared-off shape we’ve had since 2020, swapping it for a design with curved glass edges all the way around.”
Now, that curved glass idea might sound like a pipe dream, but there’s actual evidence to back it up: Apple has already filed a patent for a device with this exact feature. As PatentlyApple pointed out, the patent describes a “six-sided glass enclosure” that feels and looks “seamless,” even though it’s made of two separate glass pieces. Apple also notes the device could do away with a “dedicated or visually obvious front or top”—blurring the lines between different sides of the phone.
Only time will tell what Apple actually has in store, but we won’t have to wait long for a first look: The company has already sent out invites for its 2025 event, which is just two weeks away. The event might be called “Awe Dropping,” but if these reports are true, the real win would be Apple reversing course—bringing the “awe” back to its products, instead of letting it fade away.
