Apple’s 20th anniversary of the iPhone is still more than a year away, but the company is reportedly already laying the groundwork for what could become one of its most ambitious hardware refresh cycles in recent memory.
According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is testing a range of products for 2027, including special anniversary iPhone models, a second-generation foldable iPhone, AirPods equipped with cameras and new AI wearables. The devices are reportedly being developed alongside iOS 28, internally codenamed “Bell.”
If the plans materialise, 2027 could mark a turning point for Apple as it shifts from simply adding AI features to building hardware specifically designed around them.
Anniversary iPhone and foldable successor
The report claims Apple’s 20th-anniversary iPhone models are internally known as V73 and V74 and are expected to succeed the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Both devices could be powered by Apple’s next-generation 2nm A21 chipset. While details remain scarce, anniversary iPhones have historically carried higher expectations. The iPhone X, launched during the iPhone’s tenth anniversary year, introduced Face ID and a dramatically different design. As a result, expectations for a 20th-anniversary model are already building.
Apple is also said to be working on a second-generation foldable iPhone, codenamed V78. That’s noteworthy because it suggests Apple may already be planning a follow-up before its first foldable iPhone has even reached consumers.
Camera-equipped AirPods
Perhaps the most unusual product in the report is a new pair of AirPods with built-in cameras. These cameras are not expected to be used for taking photos. Instead, they would act as visual sensors for Apple’s AI features. Users could potentially ask Siri questions about objects, locations or surroundings without needing to pull out their iPhone. Meta has already pushed AI-powered wearables into the mainstream through its smart glasses, while companies across the tech industry are exploring ways to make AI more context-aware and less dependent on smartphones. Apple also appears to be betting heavily on AI-powered hardware experiences rather than AI chatbots alone.
Buyers shouldn’t base any purchasing decisions for products that are still almost a year away. But the report offers an early glimpse into where Apple believes consumer technology is heading next, and it appears to involve far more than just the iPhone.
