As we know, Apple is building a special iPhone 20 device for its 20th iPhone anniversary, which will be launched in 2027. Now, the Chinese leaker Instant Digital posted on Weibo this week, listing several expected features of the 20th-anniversary iPhone. The most interesting one: solid-state buttons on the sides of the device. The buttons are reportedly still in testing, working with gloves, wet hands, extreme heat and cold, and even through a phone case.
There’s also talk of an ultra-low-power chip inside that keeps the buttons functional even when the iPhone is fully off. Apple reportedly completed functional verification of this system back in October 2025. The iPhone 17 series, available right now, is a clean, well-built phone. It has physical buttons, a standard Dynamic Island, and a flat aluminium-glass design. But compared to what the iPhone 20 promises, the iPhone 17 feels like a stepping stone, not a destination.
iPhone 18, expected in late 2026, is rumored to change the existing design further, possibly with a thinner body, an improved A-series chip, and better camera hardware. But it is not expected to introduce solid-state buttons or all-glass construction. Think of iPhone 18 as the iPhone 17 with better internals. The iPhone 20 is where Apple plans to move further with advanced design changes.
Will Apple Bring Solid-State Buttons
Solid-state buttons have been rumored since the iPhone 15 series back in 2023. That never happened. Weibo leakers often recycle old rumors with fresh confidence. Instant Digital has done this before. That said, enough separate sources pointing toward 2027 make this feel more real than previous attempts.
If the leaks hold true, the iPhone 20 could be the kind of redesign that makes people keep their current phone just to skip ahead and buy it. The 20-year anniversary deserves a better iPhone with exclusive features. Apple knows that. Now let’s see if they actually deliver it.
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