Apple might skip the iPhone 19 and go directly to the iPhone 20 in 2027
As the iPhone 17 series enjoys a successful start in the market, all eyes are already on Apple’s upcoming models. The iPhone 18 is set to launch in the fall of 2026, but a new report from research firm Omdia suggests that the tech giant is planning a major shift in its naming strategy.
2027: 20 Years of the iPhone
Omdia reports that Apple may skip the “iPhone 19” name altogether and go straight to the iPhone 20 in 2027, which will mark the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone.
The aim would be symbolic: to align the “20” generation with the product’s milestone anniversary.
This wouldn’t be the first time Apple altered its numbering: in 2017, the company skipped the iPhone 9 to introduce the iPhone X, celebrating the smartphone’s tenth anniversary.
A New Launch Strategy
According to Heo Moo-yeol, a senior analyst at Omdia, Apple plans to reorganize its launch schedule and structure starting in 2026.
The company may not release a “standard” iPhone 18 that year, focusing instead on three models:
- iPhone 18 Air,
- iPhone 18 Pro,
- and the highly anticipated iPhone Fold, Apple’s first foldable phone.
Proposed Roadmap by Omdia
2026
- iPhone 18 Air
- iPhone 18 Pro
- iPhone Fold
1st Half of 2027
- iPhone 18e (a more affordable model)
- iPhone 18 standard
2nd Half of 2027
- iPhone 20 Air
- iPhone 20 Pro
- iPhone 20 Pro Max
- iPhone Fold 2
A Strategic Transition
This biannual launch approach—one wave in spring and another in fall—would allow Apple to better distribute its sales throughout the year while differentiating its product lines, from entry-level to premium and innovative models.
If these reports are confirmed, 2027 is poised to be a pivotal year for Apple, highlighted by a new product cycle and the commemoration of the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, which might very well be named…the iPhone 20.
