Apple is renowned for its exceptional hardware and refined software, but its innovation cycle often spans years. 2027 is poised to be a landmark year, with a potential lineup of groundbreaking products that could reshape the tech landscape. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently offered a glimpse into Apple’s 2027 roadmap, hinting at a massive overhaul across multiple product categories.
The Foldable iPhone Finally Arrives
A semi-open foldable iPhone concept
After years of anticipation, the foldable iPhone may finally debut in 2027. While Apple has trailed competitors in entering the foldable market, reports suggest the wait will be worthwhile. Bloomberg reports that Apple has nearly eliminated the notorious display crease, a persistent challenge for foldable devices. Oppo’s Find N5 made strides in crease reduction, but Apple’s solution could be a game-changer.
Concept render of a foldable iPhone.
Rumors indicate Samsung is supplying Apple with a custom in-cell display panel that is thinner, brighter, and boasts superior color reproduction compared to typical flexible displays. This advanced technology hasn’t yet appeared in Samsung’s own foldable phones. The foldable iPhone is expected to command a premium price, potentially exceeding $2,000. A thinner display assembly also suggests Apple is pursuing a slimmer chassis design, similar to the rumored iPhone 17 Air.
The 20th Anniversary iPhone: A Revolutionary Redesign
The iPhone X, released for the tenth anniversary, marked a significant design departure for Apple. The 20th anniversary iPhone, slated for 2027, could usher in a similar transformation.
iPhone 8 dummy model running iOS 11
Mark Gurman suggests Apple is planning a “mostly glass, curved iPhone — without any cutouts in the display” for 2027. Other reports point to an edge-to-edge, all-screen design with the front camera and Face ID components embedded beneath the display. While under-display camera technology has been explored by other manufacturers, image quality has been a limiting factor due to light passing through a pixel layer.
Vivo Apex in a person's hands
There are also whispers of a port-less iPhone, eliminating the SIM slot and potentially utilizing an Apple-designed network modem. The 20th anniversary iPhone appears poised to be a pivotal moment in Apple’s history.
Apple Smart Glasses: A New Vision
Apple’s smart glasses project has been shrouded in secrecy, but it seems to be taking shape. Bloomberg reports Apple is aiming to challenge Meta’s dominance with smart glasses equipped with cameras but lacking an internal display.
Person wearing Halliday glasses.
These glasses will reportedly leverage “Visual Intelligence,” a feature using generative AI to interpret the surrounding environment as captured by the camera. Both Google and Meta are developing similar capabilities. While true augmented reality (AR) glasses are further down the line, Apple’s initial offering could be a significant step forward.
Prakhar Khanna wearing Ray-Ban Meta Glasses.
Apple is also rumored to be developing a more affordable and comfortable version of the Vision Pro headset, along with a high-end successor with tethered Mac connectivity for enhanced processing.
Cameras for Apple Watch and AirPods
Apple is reportedly exploring integrating cameras into its wearable devices, specifically the Apple Watch and AirPods. While Meta previously abandoned a similar concept, Apple is pursuing camera integration for both the standard Apple Watch and the premium Ultra model.
A person wearing the Apple Watch SE 2.
The camera on the standard Apple Watch will be integrated into the display, while the Ultra model will feature a side-mounted camera near the digital crown. This addition could enhance features like fall detection, workout assistance, and emergency communication.
Phil Nickinson wearing AirPods Pro and Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
AirPods are also expected to receive a camera upgrade, along with real-time translation capabilities. This could enable advanced AI-powered environmental analysis and health-focused features. Recent research using Apple’s M2 chip demonstrates the potential for AI-powered real-time multilingual translation in headphones.
2027 promises a resurgence of innovation for Apple. Alongside groundbreaking hardware designs, a revamped Siri with enhanced natural language processing capabilities is also anticipated. This combination of hardware and software advancements could solidify Apple’s position at the forefront of the tech industry.
