Apple is expected to bypass the iPhone 19 model in 2027, instead launching the iPhone 20 to commemorate the smartphone’s 20th anniversary, according to recent reports.
This strategy echoes a previous move by the technology giant. It skipped the iPhone 9 for the iPhone X’s tenth anniversary in 2017.
The information suggests Apple will depart from its usual numbering sequence. The current model is iPhone 17, with iPhone 18 projected for 2026 and iPhone 19 for 2027.
Heo Moo-yeol, chief researcher at Omdia, confirmed the iPhone 20 naming at a conference in Seoul, South Korea. The report cited ETNews, MacRumors, and Tech Times.
Sources further indicate an expanded iPhone lineup for 2027. Apple plans to release the iPhone 18e, a more economical smartphone, in the first half of the year.
The iPhone 20 series would then debut in the second half of 2027. This aligns with the company’s 20th anniversary celebrations for its flagship device.
Alongside the iPhone 20, 2027 is also slated to introduce a next-generation iPhone Air and a second-generation foldable iPhone. This implies the first foldable model could arrive as early as next year.
Apple previously launched the iPhone 8 and the special anniversary iPhone X concurrently, omitting the iPhone 9. The iPhone X adopted a Roman numeral system.
This numbering choice initially sparked speculation of a permanent shift. However, after the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR in 2018, Apple reverted to standard numerical naming with the iPhone 11 in 2019, a system it maintains today.
The company recently changed its operating system nomenclature. It moved from iOS 18 to a year-based system, such as iOS 26. This demonstrates Apple’s willingness to adjust its naming conventions.