For more than a decade, Apple’s iPhone design philosophy has been defined by refinement rather than reinvention. Flat edges, incremental camera upgrades, and subtle material changes have dominated recent generations. That may soon change.

Leaked details about Apple’s future iPhone roadmap suggest the company is preparing its most radical hardware shift since the original iPhone X, one that introduces foldable displays and eventually curved, wraparound glass designs.

A Foldable iPhone But on Apple’s Terms

Apple is widely expected to enter the foldable phone market later than its competitors, and that delay appears intentional. Rather than rushing to match Samsung or Google, Apple’s approach focuses on solving the biggest weaknesses of foldables: visible creases, durability, and software compromises.

The rumored foldable iPhone is expected to use a book-style design, opening into a tablet-like screen while retaining a usable external display when closed. Reports suggest Apple is aiming for a near-invisible crease, a technical milestone that could instantly set a new industry standard. If successful, this would mark Apple’s first serious step toward blending iPhone and iPad experiences into a single device.

From a software perspective, a foldable iPhone would also give Apple an opportunity to rethink iOS multitasking, something critics have long argued lags behind Android on larger screens.

Curved Glass and the “All-Screen” Future

Beyond foldables, Apple’s roadmap hints at an even more ambitious vision: a curved-glass iPhone with no visible frame. This design, reportedly planned to coincide with the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, would wrap glass around the front and back, creating a seamless, sculpted object.

Such a device would likely rely on under-display Face ID and camera systems, eliminating cutouts and notches entirely. If realized, it would represent Apple’s purest interpretation of an “all-screen” phone, something the company has been gradually working toward since 2017.

Why This Matters

These design shifts aren’t just cosmetic. They signal a broader strategic change at Apple:

• Hardware innovation returns to the spotlight, after years of iterative updates
• Foldables become mainstream, not experimental
• The line between phone and tablet continues to blur
• Apple reasserts design leadership, rather than following industry trends

In a smartphone market facing slowing sales and longer upgrade cycles, bold form-factor changes may be exactly what Apple needs to re-ignite excitement.

The Bigger Picture

If these leaks are accurate, Apple is not simply adding a foldable iPhone, it’s redefining what an iPhone can be. First comes the fold, testing new materials and interaction models. Then comes the curved-glass future, where the device itself becomes a single, uninterrupted surface.

The flat phone era may be nearing its end. Apple’s next chapter looks anything but flat.