Apple’s 2027 iPhone and AirPods plans could put 2026 releases in the shade – report
Apple's 20th anniversary iPhone, a second-gen foldable and the long-awaited AirPods with cameras could be gamechangers.
While the slate of Apple products expected by the end of the year is mightily exciting, 2027 is also shaping up to be a pivotal year for the iPhone maker, according to a new report.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says work is “ramping up” on the 20th anniversary iPhone model that’ll arrive in two sizes and carry an Apple-built 2-nanometer A21 chipset. The current models use a 3nm process, although Apple is expected to begin the transition to 2nm for the A20 series expected on the iPhone 18.
Previous rumours have suggested Apple intends to mark the epochal handset’s landmark birthday with an edge-to-edge display with curved edges for the maximum possible screen-to-body ratio. Sounds tasty.
Furthermore, Apple is planning a second generation foldable phone – thought to be dubbed the iPhone Ultra – in 2027 according to the same report. That’s significant. It’s not always a given for Apple to immediately begin an annual update cycle for new form factors. However, the idea that the iPhone Ultra might get a rapid successor might encourage more of a wait-and-see approach from those flirting with the idea of buying the first-gen model.
I’ve been waiting for an Apple foldable for years, but I’m also conscious that the company a) doesn’t always nail the first effort and b) holds a little in reserve for the second generation.
Apple, the report says, is also speeding ahead with work on the next generation AirPods Pro model that are equipped with cameras to enable the capture of environmental context for AI purposes. It had initially been thought this model would arrive before 2026 is out, but as with all predictions they’re subject to Apple shifting the release windows to fit the ever changing development landscape.
Chris Smith
