Apple To Skip iPhone 19, Plans iPhone 20 Launch For 2027 Milestone
The buzz around Apple’s future lineup has already begun, and this time, it’s about a major milestone in the company’s history. With the iPhone 17 series now behind us, early reports suggest that Apple is planning something special to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its revolutionary smartphone. According to a new industry analysis, the company is expected to launch the iPhone 20 in 2027, breaking away from its traditional naming pattern and annual release timeline.
Commemorating Two Decades of the iPhone
The first iPhone, unveiled by Steve Jobs in January 2007, transformed the mobile industry forever. To honour that legacy, Apple is reportedly preparing to skip the “iPhone 19” and jump straight to the iPhone 20. The information comes from Heo Moo-yeol, a senior analyst at research firm Omdia, who claims that Apple aims to align this release with the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone.
Omdia: “The 2027 iPhone model name will be ‘iPhone 20’”
A forecast has emerged that Apple will name the iPhone it releases in 2027 “iPhone 20.”
Senior analyst Heo Moo-yeol of Omdia said at a conference held on the 22nd at EL Tower in Seocho-gu, Seoul, “Apple will release the… pic.twitter.com/4GfOxyZ7NI— Jukan (@Jukanlosreve) October 22, 2025
Just as the company released the iPhone X in 2017 to celebrate ten years of the product line, the iPhone 20 is expected to follow a similar celebratory strategy. However, what makes this move particularly notable is that Apple may break its long-standing September launch tradition. Reports indicate that the iPhone 20 could be unveiled in the first half of 2027, a major shift from the company’s usual fall schedule that began in 2012 with the iPhone 5.
iPhone 18e and iPhone Fold 2 Also on the Horizon
Alongside the iPhone 20, Apple is expected to introduce another device named the iPhone 18e, which will reportedly not be part of the flagship series but will debut around the same time. Later that year, the rest of the iPhone 20 lineup, including the iPhone 20 Air, iPhone 20 Pro, and iPhone 20 Pro Max, is expected to follow in the second half of 2027.
Another highlight of Apple’s 2027 roadmap will be the second-generation iPhone Fold, likely branded as the iPhone Fold 2. This will succeed Apple’s first foldable model, which is tipped to debut in 2026. Interestingly, the report also notes that Apple may drop the standard iPhone 18 model next year, focusing instead on premium variants, the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and the Air edition, alongside the first-generation Fold.
Market Outlook and Production Forecast
Omdia’s analysis forecasts a 20 million-unit reduction in iPhone panel demand in 2027 as Apple reshapes its lineup strategy. Despite that, overall panel shipments are projected to reach 245 million units this year, showing steady growth. Apple is also believed to be optimistic about its new category of foldables, with over eight million iPhone Fold units expected to ship in the first year alone.
As the company gears up for its 20-year milestone, the iPhone 20 could represent more than just another model, it may mark a new era in Apple’s design evolution and product identity.
