Apple’s plans for an all-glass iPhone marking the product’s 20th anniversary in 2027 have hit a major manufacturing setback, with production yields reportedly too low to make the design viable.
Supply chain checks indicate Apple has run into problems producing the device at scale, raising the possibility that the all-glass design will not make it into the 2027 iPhone lineup.
The setback also has implications for Apple’s broader product strategy. The design was seen as a potential way to create a more premium iPhone and push average selling prices higher, particularly as the company faces rising component costs.
What Apple was reportedly planning
The 20th anniversary iPhone has been described as one of Apple’s most ambitious redesigns since the iPhone X.
The concept centers on a curved glass enclosure that would wrap continuously around the front and back of the device, eliminating visible cutouts.
Other reported changes include under-display Face ID and solid-state buttons in place of physical controls.
A second-generation foldable iPhone has also been linked to Apple’s 2027 lineup.
The device could have carried a blended retail price of around $2,060, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has produced.
That premium pricing would have given Apple more room to absorb higher component costs while expanding margins on its high-end models.
Why the setback matters
The manufacturing problem could affect more than one iPhone generation. Apple has been exploring ways to extend the all-glass design to the Pro and Pro Max models, potentially using the more premium construction to support higher prices across its most profitable iPhones.
That strategy becomes harder to execute if Apple cannot produce the design at acceptable yields.
Rising memory costs are another pressure point. The additional RAM needed for Apple Intelligence is already increasing the cost of future iPhones, while the slow rollout of Apple’s AI features could make those higher hardware costs harder to justify.
The design may not be entirely dead
There is still some uncertainty over what has actually been canceled. The manufacturing problems could have killed the complete all-glass concept, or they could have forced Apple to abandon only the most ambitious part of the design.
Other elements reportedly under consideration, including a quad-curved chassis, have not been ruled out.
The biggest technical hurdle has long been the front of the phone. Eliminating the Dynamic Island would require Apple to place Face ID components beneath the display, something that has presented significant engineering challenges.
Apple has not commented on the report and has never publicly confirmed the 20th anniversary iPhone project. With more than a year before the 2027 launch window, Apple’s final design could still change considerably.
