Apple Expected to Skip ‘iPhone 19’ Name for 20th Anniversary ‘iPhone 20’
Apple is projected to launch the ‘iPhone 20’ in 2027, bypassing the ‘iPhone 19’ name, according to a forecast released by market intelligence firm Omdia. This naming adjustment is widely viewed as a strategy shift intended to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone’s introduction.
Omdia Senior Researcher Heo Moo-yeol presented this prediction at a recent conference in Seoul, detailing Apple’s potential product roadmap and launch schedule adjustments beginning in 2026. This practice of a commemorative name change is not unprecedented; Apple previously launched the ‘iPhone X’ (the Roman numeral for 10) to mark the 10th anniversary in 2017.
Projected Product Launch Schedule (2027)
Omdia forecasts that Apple will adopt a new, potentially bi-annual release strategy in 2027, introducing new models in both the spring and fall launch windows:
- Spring 2027: Expected to include the launch of the iPhone 18e and the flagship iPhone 20 series.
- Fall 2027: Predicted to feature the high-end lineup, specifically the iPhone 20 Air, iPhone 20 Pro, iPhone 20 Pro Max, and the second-generation foldable model, the iPhone Fold 2.
Impact on Panel Demand and Foldable Market Entry
The analyst noted that this adjustment in product strategy is expected to create a temporary impact on the display panel supply chain.
- 2026 Shift: The 2026 iPhone 18 lineup is projected to temporarily omit the standard non-Pro model, featuring only the Air, Pro, Pro Max, and the inaugural iPhone Fold model.
- Panel Demand Fluctuation: This temporary absence of the standard model is forecasted to cause a momentary dip of approximately 20 million units in iPhone panel demand for 2026.
- Market Recovery: Omdia anticipates the market will quickly recover. The introduction of the first foldable model, estimated to ship over 8 million units in its initial year, combined with the permanent adoption of the bi-annual launch strategy, is projected to restore annual panel demand to over 250 million units by 2027.
This strategic shift highlights Apple’s efforts to diversify its product offerings and stabilise annual shipment volumes through planned entry into the competitive foldable smartphone segment.
