Apple Planning Futuristic 'Glasswing' iPhone With Curved Glass and No Cutouts [Gurman]

Apple is setting the stage for a dramatic redesign of the iPhone to mark the iconic device's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to a recent newsletter from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The device, internally codenamed "Glasswing," is said to feature curved glass sides around the entire phone, extraordinarily slim bezels, and a display with no visible cutouts.

This futuristic hardware is reportedly being paved by a new software design language coming this year. The new aesthetic, internally called "Liquid Glass," will feature the sheen and see-through visuals of a glassy surface, with transparency and shine effects applied to toolbars, in-app interfaces, and controls. The goal is to make Apple's operating systems more cohesive, with a similar look across the board.

Apple is expected to preview the new approach at its Worldwide Developers Conference. Gurman notes this will coincide with a major shift to year-based branding, meaning we'll see names like iOS 26 and macOS 26 instead of iOS 19 and macOS 16. This new naming convention will also apply to watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS.


While iOS 7 in 2013 was a major visual shift for the iPhone, Gurman notes this overhaul will be more widely felt across the entire ecosystem. It will also serve as a potential distraction from the reality that Apple remains behind in artificial intelligence. He suggests that while other companies are focused on AI-centric interfaces, Apple is making its successful operating system franchise more capable and sleek.

Gurman uses a car industry analogy to frame Apple's current position. He says the company is producing the best "gas cars" on the road (its operating systems) and is making them more upscale. It has rolled out a "hybrid" (Apple Intelligence), but is struggling to make a true all-electric vehicle to compete with rivals like OpenAI and Google.

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off tomorrow June 9. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for full coverage of the event.