Apple Abandons Fully Glass iPhone for 20th Anniversary Due to High Defect Rates
In 2027, it will be 20 years since the launch of the first iPhone. To mark the anniversary, Apple had planned to release a revolutionary smartphone with a fully glass body. However, according to analysts, the tech giant was forced to abandon the idea due to serious manufacturing difficulties and a high defect rate.
What was the concept of the “anniversary” iPhone?
The original concept called for the anniversary model to feature a monolithic glass body with virtually no bezels or cutouts. The front-facing camera and Face ID sensors were expected to be placed under the display, while physical buttons would be replaced with touch-sensitive solid-state controls. According to experts’ estimates, the price of such a flagship could exceed $2,000.
Why is the company changing its plans?
The main reason is the complexity of manufacturing. Jefferies analyst Edison Lee, after studying Apple’s supply chain, reported that producing a fully glass body results in an excessively high percentage of defective components.
As a result, Apple has been forced to reconsider not only the design of the anniversary device but also future iPhone Pro and Pro Max models, which were also expected to use similar glass panels.
What can users expect in 2027?
Abandoning the fully glass construction does not mean that the anniversary smartphone has been canceled. Most likely, Apple will introduce an updated flagship with a more traditional design combining metal and glass, while continuing to work on a new-generation foldable iPhone Ultra.
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