[Digital Today reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] There is a view that the next-generation iPhone Apple is preparing to mark the 20th anniversary of the iPhone may not directly replace the existing Pro model. Major design changes are expected. Apple’s recent move to separate the roles of the Pro and Air in its iPhone lineup has emerged as a new variable.

On Aug. 1 (local time), IT outlet NineToFiveMac raised the possibility that the 20th anniversary iPhone could be positioned as a model that continues the Air line rather than the Pro lineup, based on the design direction being discussed and changes in the current iPhone range.

In the market, expectations continue that Apple will apply large-scale design changes for the 20th anniversary of the iPhone launch in 2027. Possible changes cited include an all-glass design extending to the edges of the display, a roughly 7-inch display, and Face ID and the front camera hidden under the display. In that case, the Dynamic Island at the top of the current iPhone screen could disappear.

But the core of this outlook is its place in the product range rather than the design. Many previously expected the model to appear under a name such as iPhone 19 Pro or iPhone 20 and become the next product in the Pro lineup. But a different interpretation is emerging as Apple recently shifts its product strategy toward separating the character of Pro and Air models.

The recently released iPhone 17 Pro has shifted toward emphasizing performance and practicality. The outlet assessed the iPhone 17 Pro as a model that strongly pushes practicality. It explained that an aluminum-centered design and a thicker chassis focus on thermal management and sustaining performance. If Pro models once symbolised premium materials and distinctive design, this suggests their role has recently moved toward performance-focused products.

The iPhone Air, by contrast, has established itself as a model that emphasizes a premium design experience through a thin profile, an all-glass design and titanium materials. As a result, the iPhone lineup is being reshaped into a structure in which the Air handles a luxurious exterior and the Pro handles top-level performance, it said.

In this 흐름, there is also an observation that Apple is unlikely to apply a glass-centered design to the Pro model again. Designs with a high proportion of glass could be disadvantageous for thermal management.

In particular, if the 20th anniversary iPhone is released in a form closer to the 'single sheet of glass' pursued by former Apple design chief Jonathan Ive (조너선 아이브), it could align more closely with the Air model’s direction than the performance-focused philosophy of current Pro models, the report said.

Possible changes to the iPhone lineup are also being raised. While there is a 전망 that iPhone Air 2 will add a second camera in early 2027, it is uncertain how the Air lineup will be reorganised after that.

Some have suggested Apple could 구성 its range from autumn 2027 to spring 2028 with iPhone 19 Pro and Pro Max, two 20th anniversary iPhone models, a second-generation foldable iPhone, and iPhone 19 and iPhone 19e.

In that case, the 20th anniversary iPhone would become a separate top-end model rather than a product that replaces the existing Pro model. This would be similar to Apple’s strategy in 2017 for the 10th anniversary of the iPhone launch, when it unveiled the iPhone X separately from the iPhone 8 series.

Even so, the view that the 20th anniversary iPhone will replace the Pro model remains dominant. NineToFiveMac reported that related rumours still lean more toward the Pro replacement view, while adding that product positioning and specifications could change as more than a year remains until launch.

Ultimately, the biggest point to watch for the 20th anniversary iPhone is where Apple will place the product, rather than the new design itself. If the separation of roles between Pro and Air continues, the likelihood is growing that the 20th anniversary iPhone could emerge as a new premium line rather than a straightforward next-generation Pro model.