September 17, 2025 • 14 mins
We explore the rumored iPhone 20, Apple's potential 20th anniversary device codenamed Glasswing, that may deliver a revolutionary all-glass, borderless design in 2027. This isn't just an evolution, but a complete rethinking of the smartphone as we know it.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Ida (00:00):
Welcome back to the Deep Dive, where we get into the most
compelling whispers and thereal groundbreaking stuff in
tech, giving you the insightsthat actually matter.
Allen (00:09):
Yeah, digging beyond the headlines.
Ida (00:11):
Exactly.
And today, oh boy, we're divinginto something that has, well,
basically the entire Apple worldbuzzing.
Imagine a device.
It feels almost mythical, rightLike something beamed back from
the future.
Allen (00:24):
It really does.
It's that kind of bold thinkingthat gets you genuinely excited
about where personal tech isheaded.
This isn't just you knowtweaking things, it's a
fundamental rethink.
Ida (00:33):
That's the perfect way to put it.
We are talking about therumored 20th anniversary iPhone.
The name floating around isiPhone 20, maybe landing in 2027
.
Right?
Allen (00:41):
the big 2-0.
Ida (00:42):
And our mission today to really unpack this journey
towards what sounds like a fullglass body phone, like no
cutouts, no bezels, zero, andhow this all ties into Apple's
let's be honest almost obsessivequest for that perfect,
seamless screen.
Allen (00:57):
It's fascinating.
We'll get into the code names,the patents, maybe even lift the
lid a tiny bit on Apple's supersecret prototype stages.
Ida (01:05):
Yes, because this rumored device.
It feels like a culmination,doesn't it?
Like years of design ideascoming together.
It's not just a gadget, it'salmost a statement.
Allen (01:15):
It really is a statement about the future of interaction,
maybe even making the techitself kind of disappear.
Ida (01:20):
Love that.
Ok, so let's start with thename iPhone 20.
Why skip 19?
What's the thinking there?
Allen (01:27):
Well, the reporting, particularly from Mark Gurman at
Bloomberg, who's usually veryplugged in, strongly suggests
Apple might just leapfrog iPhone19 altogether straight to 20 in
2027.
Ida (01:39):
Like they did with the iPhone X, skipping nine.
Allen (01:41):
Exactly like that Remember 2017, iPhone 8, and
boom, iPhone X for the 10thanniversary.
It wasn't just a number change.
It signaled a massive redesign,a new direction.
Ida (01:51):
Right Getting rid of the home button face ID.
That was huge.
Allen (01:54):
Totally so.
Iphone 20 would do the samething for the 20th anniversary.
It flags this as a reallysignificant, transformative
change.
It's Apple saying pay attention, this is different.
Ida (02:03):
It definitely feels like a marker, a nod to the history for
the longtime fans who watch forthese big shifts.
So if it's meant to be that big, maybe iPhone X on steroids, as
Gurman put it.
Does it have one of those coolinternal code names?
Allen (02:19):
It reportedly does.
The code name being kickedaround is Glasswing.
Ida (02:22):
Glasswing.
Ok, that definitely hints atsomething sleek, maybe all glass
.
Allen (02:26):
Precisely that name itself points right at the core
idea All screen, no borders.
Gurman, calling it iPhone X onsteroids really emphasizes that
it's taking that first big leapgetting rid of the home button
and pushing it way, way further.
Ida (02:41):
Taking it to the logical extreme, maybe.
Allen (02:43):
Kind of yeah yeah, but it's more than just looks.
It feels like a deeperphilosophy shift for Apple,
pushing the physical device intothe background.
So all you focus on is thecontent, the interaction, that
idea of an invisible interface.
Designers have dreamed aboutthat for ages.
Ida (02:56):
An invisible interface.
Oh, I know.
Okay, so this isn't justhardware, then the software, iOS
.
It would have to be totallydifferent.
Right, I heard whispers aboutiOS 26 being built around this.
Allen (03:07):
That's exactly right.
Reports suggest iOS 26 is beingdeveloped specifically with
this redesigned model in mind.
Think about it.
That implies a completely newsoftware experience.
How would gestures work,notifications, app layouts when
there are literally zerophysical borders or
interruptions on the screen?
Ida (03:25):
So the hardware and software have to be developed
completely in tandem.
Allen (03:28):
Absolutely In lockstep To deliver that seamless
experience Apple is alwaysaiming for.
It's not just a new phone, it'sa new way of using the phone.
Ida (03:37):
Okay, that sets the stage perfectly.
Let's get to the heart of itthen.
This full glass body, thewaterfall display.
What does all screen, nocutouts, no bezels actually mean
for us holding it?
Allen (03:48):
Okay, this is like the ultimate dream for a lot of
Apple fans, right?
Ida (03:51):
Yeah.
Allen (03:51):
I mean, it's a screen that doesn't just curve a bit on
the sides.
Imagine it flowing like awaterfall over all four edges
top, bottom, left, right.
Ida (04:00):
Whoa, so no metal frame visible from the front at all.
Allen (04:04):
That seems to be the idea Completely eliminating the
traditional bezels and,crucially, no cutouts, no notch,
no dynamic island, not even apinhole for the camera, just
screen, a truly uninterruptedview, for the first time.
Ida (04:19):
Okay, hold on.
No camera hole.
Where does the front camera go?
And face ID?
How does that work?
Allen (04:24):
Ah, that's the multi-million dollar question,
isn't it?
This is where the reallycutting edge tech comes in.
We're talking under displayface ID sensors and an under
display front camera.
Ida (04:33):
Hiding them under the pixels.
Allen (04:35):
Exactly Hiding all those sensors in the camera beneath
the actual screen array.
The massive challenge isn'tjust hiding them, it's making
sure they still work properly.
You can't compromise face IDsecurity or have terrible selfie
quality.
So if Apple actually pulls thisoff effectively, it's a huge
testament to their skills inoptics, miniaturization, sensor
tech, making the screen totallyimmersive without losing key
(04:58):
features.
Ida (04:58):
That really is an engineering feat.
And physically, how do theyeven make a display bend over
all four edges like that?
That sounds fragile.
Allen (05:05):
Well.
Reports, particularly from ETNews in South Korea, suggest
Apple is deep into exploringsomething called four-edge
bending OLED technology.
Ida (05:15):
Four-edge bending OK.
Allen (05:16):
Yeah, it's not just a gentle curve.
It's about physically shapingthe flexible OLED panner itself
around all four sides to getthat completely borderless look.
It's a massive step up indisplay manufacturing, pushing
flexible OLEDs to their absolutelimit.
Ida (05:32):
It's wild how long Apple seems to have been thinking
about this, though I feel likethe idea of an all-glass iPhone
has been floating around forages Patents maybe.
Allen (05:39):
Oh, for years.
You're absolutely right.
Apple actually filed a patentapplication detailing glass body
construction way back in 2014.
It was published in 2016.
2014, wow, yeah, and thatpatent talked about how a glass
enclosure could improve thingslike water resistance, antenna
performance, because glassdoesn't block signals like metal
can, and even scratchresistance.
Ida (06:00):
So this glass wing idea isn't just some sudden
brainstorm.
Allen (06:04):
Not at all.
It feels like the culminationof well over a decade of
internal R&D, Slowly, piece bypiece, moving towards this
vision of a device that feelslike a single polished piece of
glass, that pure, uninterruptedscreen.
Ida (06:20):
It really puts the journey into perspective From the
original iPhone to thispotential glass wing.
Let's maybe trace thatevolution a bit and also peek
behind the curtain at how Appleactually built something this
ambitious.
Allen (06:32):
Definitely.
If you look at the big picture,the past, all screen really
kicked off with the iPhone X in2017.
That was the first big moveditching the home button,
bringing in Face ID and, yes,the notch.
Ida (06:44):
The notch Divisive at first , but it pushed the screen
closer to the edges.
Allen (06:48):
Right, Then fast forward to the iPhone 14 Pro and the
notch evolves into the dynamicisland.
Apple cleverly turned ahardware necessity into this
interactive software feature.
Ida (06:57):
Yeah, that was a smart pivot.
Allen (06:58):
And now the next logical step seems to be getting rid of
any black cutout.
Just pure display Ultimateseamlessness.
Ida (07:04):
It's like this constant refinement.
But OK, how does Apple go froma concept like Glasswing or a
patent from 2014 to an actualphone you can buy?
Allen (07:15):
Yeah.
Ida (07:15):
What are those secretive development stages really like?
Allen (07:18):
It's incredibly rigorous, not just sketching and building
.
It's a complex, multi-stageprocess, really detailed.
Ida (07:26):
Does it start with, just like physical models, things you
can hold?
Allen (07:29):
Pretty much.
They start with design mock-ups.
These often aren't functionalat all, just the casing, maybe
made of different materials,initially, like early plastic
mock-ups, before settling onaluminum and glass.
It's all about nailing the lookand feel, the ergonomics.
Ida (07:43):
Okay, so they get the shape right, then they start breaking
it.
Allen (07:45):
Ah, basically.
Next up are the drop teststages.
Here they take the corestructural bits the frame, the
glass and really put themthrough the ringer Durability
tests, water resistance tests,often using dummy parts inside.
Ida (07:57):
And the results feed back into the design.
Allen (08:00):
Directly.
If something fails, they haveto tweak the design, maybe
reinforce certain areas, changematerials.
It ensures the final phone canactually survive being dropped
you dropped.
Ida (08:09):
Makes sense.
When does it actually startworking like a phone?
Allen (08:12):
That's the prototype stage, often called proto one,
proto two, etc.
This is the first time they tryto build fully functional units
.
They can still look prettyrough, might run very basic
internal software, sometimescalled non-UI.
Ios, just focused on testing ifthe core components the chips,
the sensors actually worktogether.
Ida (08:31):
So they might look quite different from the final product
.
Allen (08:33):
Oh, absolutely, and this is where they validate the
fundamental engineering choices.
Ida (08:38):
Is this where features might get tested and maybe even
cut, like those rumored solidstate buttons for the iPhone 15
Pro?
Allen (08:45):
Exactly that leads into the next big phase, evt, or
engineering validation testing.
This stage has multiplesub-stages and it's all about
perfecting the hardware.
And, yes, this is whereexperimental features like the
haptic buttons, codenamedProject Bongo, get put through
intense testing.
Ida (09:02):
Ah, project Bongo, I remember that leak.
Allen (09:04):
Right and sometimes, like with Bongo, features tested in
EVT don't make the final cut.
Maybe they're too complex tomanufacture reliably, or too
expensive or just don't meetApple's quality bar.
Evt is a critical filter.
These units still run thatnon-UI software usually.
Ida (09:21):
OK, so EVT irons out the hardware kinks.
What's next?
Allen (09:25):
After EVT you get DVT, which stands for Design,
Validation, Testing.
Now they're ensuring thehardware works and the design is
manufacturable at scale.
Dvt units look very close tothe final product.
Ida (09:36):
Is this when they send units out for approvals?
Allen (09:38):
Yes, this is typically when devices go to regulatory
bodies like the FCC and also tocarriers for network testing.
Those are sometimes called CRBunits running a special carry.
Os, dvt units are oftendevelopment fused, meaning
engineers have easier access fordebugging.
Ida (09:52):
Okay, getting really close.
Now what's the final stepbefore it hits the assembly
lines?
Allen (09:56):
That's PVT or production validation testing.
The design is locked.
These units are basicallyidentical to what you'll buy.
The whole focus here is onrefining the manufacturing
process, making sure they canbuild millions of them perfectly
.
Sometimes software engineersget PVTE ninjas running internal
UI, ios with upcoming featuresfor testing.
Ida (10:17):
And then mass production.
Allen (10:18):
Then it's MP.
Mass production, final assembly, final quality control checks,
often using non-UI iOS again,Then loading the public release
iOS, boxing them up and shippingthem out.
Ida (10:28):
Wow, that is a journey.
It really makes you appreciatethe complexity behind even
seemingly small design changesand it explains why these really
revolutionary leaps take time.
Allen (10:38):
It absolutely does.
It shows the sheer amount ofengineering, testing and
refinement involved.
Nothing gets released by chance.
Ida (10:44):
Okay.
So for a device like the iPhone20, pushing boundaries like
that, they'll need some serioussupporting tech too.
Let's talk power.
Battery life is always huge.
How do you power a super thin,all-glass, all-screen phone?
Allen (10:56):
Yeah, battery tech is going to be absolutely critical.
The rumors here are prettyexciting, pointing towards a
major shift Maybe solid-statebatteries or something called
pure silicon battery technology.
Ida (11:07):
Silicon.
What's that?
Or?
Allen (11:09):
something called pure silicon battery technology.
Silicon, what's that?
The leaks talk about using 100%silicon for the anode instead
of the graphite used in currentlithium-ion batteries.
Theoretically, this offers muchhigher energy density, meaning
longer battery life in the samespace, or maybe even a thinner
battery, plus potentially slowerdegradation and faster charging
.
Ida (11:27):
That sounds like a game-changer, especially if the
design is getting thinner.
Allen (11:31):
It really could be.
For a device pushing aestheticboundaries like Glasswing, a
breakthrough in battery densityand efficiency isn't just nice
to have, it's almost essential.
Ida (11:40):
So better battery, but it'll also need serious brains
right, especially with AIbecoming such a big focus.
Allen (11:46):
Definitely, you could expect major performance
upgrades.
There's talk about using highbandwidth memory HBM.
Ida (11:51):
HBM like in high-end graphics cards.
Allen (11:54):
Sort of yeah, bringing that kind of memory bandwidth to
mobile could unlock reallypowerful on-device AI features.
Think real-time translationhappening instantly on your
phone, super complex photo andvideo editing without lag, much
richer AR experiences, allprocessed locally privately.
Ida (12:12):
So the phone itself becomes much more intelligent.
Allen (12:14):
That's the idea A next-gen processor combined with
something like HBM could handleincredibly complex tasks.
Right there in your hand, a newlevel of personal AI.
Ida (12:25):
That's a seriously futuristic package, but
interestingly, Gurman alsomentioned another potential
future iPhone possibly arrivingeven before this 20th
anniversary model, right?
Allen (12:35):
Logical.
Ida (12:36):
He did.
Yeah, Gurman's reportingsuggests a foldable iPhone might
actually launch by the end of2026.
So before the rumored 2027release of the iPhone 20.
Allen (12:45):
So two potentially revolutionary designs in
development.
It looks like it Interesting.
So two potentiallyrevolutionary designs in
development.
It looks like it.
It suggests Apple might beexploring multiple pads for the
future of the iPhonesimultaneously the foldable
could cater to people wantingthat larger tablet-like screen
that folds down, while the glasswing iPhone 20 aims for that
ultimate pure monolithic slabexperience.
(13:07):
A multi-pronged attack on thefuture, then Seems that way
Hedging bets maybe, or justrecognizing different users want
different things from afuturistic device.
Ida (13:17):
Well, that brings us towards the end of this deep
dive.
It's genuinely exciting tothink about where Apple might be
heading with this iPhone 20concept.
Allen (13:24):
Absolutely.
The iPhone 20, potentiallycodenamed Glass Wing, feels like
it could be trulytransformative.
That vision full glass body,zero cutouts, zero bezels,
powered by under-display tech,and that four-edge bending OLED.
Ida (13:38):
Yeah.
Allen (13:38):
It's the result of years chasing that seamless screen
dream.
Ida (13:41):
And you add in the potential for breakthrough
battery tech like Pure Silicon,plus next-gen AI performance
with things like HBM, it reallyfeels like it could live up to
being an anniversary leap.
Allen (13:51):
It does.
It's not just an iteration, itfeels like a redefinition,
following that path from theiPhone X through the dynamic
island, now potentially tocomplete screen purity.
Ida (14:01):
And understanding those incredibly detailed prototype
stages.
Evt, dvt, pvt really highlightsthe enormous effort required to
boss such a vision to life.
It's not just design, it'shardcore engineering.
Allen (14:14):
Exactly Pushing boundaries doesn't happen
overnight.
Ida (14:17):
So here's something to think about as we wrap up.
As the phone itself, thephysical object potentially gets
closer to near invisibilitywith this kind of full glass,
completely uninterrupted screen.
What does that truly seamlessexperience mean for how you
interact with your digital life?
How might it subtly or maybenot so subtly change your
relationship with the actualdevice in your hand?
Welcome back to the Deep Dive, where we get into the most
compelling whispers and thereal groundbreaking stuff in
tech, giving you the insightsthat actually matter.
Allen (00:09):
Yeah, digging beyond the headlines.
Ida (00:11):
Exactly.
And today, oh boy, we're divinginto something that has, well,
basically the entire Apple worldbuzzing.
Imagine a device.
It feels almost mythical, rightLike something beamed back from
the future.
Allen (00:24):
It really does.
It's that kind of bold thinkingthat gets you genuinely excited
about where personal tech isheaded.
This isn't just you knowtweaking things, it's a
fundamental rethink.
Ida (00:33):
That's the perfect way to put it.
We are talking about therumored 20th anniversary iPhone.
The name floating around isiPhone 20, maybe landing in 2027
.
Right?
Allen (00:41):
the big 2-0.
Ida (00:42):
And our mission today to really unpack this journey
towards what sounds like a fullglass body phone, like no
cutouts, no bezels, zero, andhow this all ties into Apple's
let's be honest almost obsessivequest for that perfect,
seamless screen.
Allen (00:57):
It's fascinating.
We'll get into the code names,the patents, maybe even lift the
lid a tiny bit on Apple's supersecret prototype stages.
Ida (01:05):
Yes, because this rumored device.
It feels like a culmination,doesn't it?
Like years of design ideascoming together.
It's not just a gadget, it'salmost a statement.
Allen (01:15):
It really is a statement about the future of interaction,
maybe even making the techitself kind of disappear.
Ida (01:20):
Love that.
Ok, so let's start with thename iPhone 20.
Why skip 19?
What's the thinking there?
Allen (01:27):
Well, the reporting, particularly from Mark Gurman at
Bloomberg, who's usually veryplugged in, strongly suggests
Apple might just leapfrog iPhone19 altogether straight to 20 in
2027.
Ida (01:39):
Like they did with the iPhone X, skipping nine.
Allen (01:41):
Exactly like that Remember 2017, iPhone 8, and
boom, iPhone X for the 10thanniversary.
It wasn't just a number change.
It signaled a massive redesign,a new direction.
Ida (01:51):
Right Getting rid of the home button face ID.
That was huge.
Allen (01:54):
Totally so.
Iphone 20 would do the samething for the 20th anniversary.
It flags this as a reallysignificant, transformative
change.
It's Apple saying pay attention, this is different.
Ida (02:03):
It definitely feels like a marker, a nod to the history for
the longtime fans who watch forthese big shifts.
So if it's meant to be that big, maybe iPhone X on steroids, as
Gurman put it.
Does it have one of those coolinternal code names?
Allen (02:19):
It reportedly does.
The code name being kickedaround is Glasswing.
Ida (02:22):
Glasswing.
Ok, that definitely hints atsomething sleek, maybe all glass
.
Allen (02:26):
Precisely that name itself points right at the core
idea All screen, no borders.
Gurman, calling it iPhone X onsteroids really emphasizes that
it's taking that first big leapgetting rid of the home button
and pushing it way, way further.
Ida (02:41):
Taking it to the logical extreme, maybe.
Allen (02:43):
Kind of yeah yeah, but it's more than just looks.
It feels like a deeperphilosophy shift for Apple,
pushing the physical device intothe background.
So all you focus on is thecontent, the interaction, that
idea of an invisible interface.
Designers have dreamed aboutthat for ages.
Ida (02:56):
An invisible interface.
Oh, I know.
Okay, so this isn't justhardware, then the software, iOS
.
It would have to be totallydifferent.
Right, I heard whispers aboutiOS 26 being built around this.
Allen (03:07):
That's exactly right.
Reports suggest iOS 26 is beingdeveloped specifically with
this redesigned model in mind.
Think about it.
That implies a completely newsoftware experience.
How would gestures work,notifications, app layouts when
there are literally zerophysical borders or
interruptions on the screen?
Ida (03:25):
So the hardware and software have to be developed
completely in tandem.
Allen (03:28):
Absolutely In lockstep To deliver that seamless
experience Apple is alwaysaiming for.
It's not just a new phone, it'sa new way of using the phone.
Ida (03:37):
Okay, that sets the stage perfectly.
Let's get to the heart of itthen.
This full glass body, thewaterfall display.
What does all screen, nocutouts, no bezels actually mean
for us holding it?
Allen (03:48):
Okay, this is like the ultimate dream for a lot of
Apple fans, right?
Ida (03:51):
Yeah.
Allen (03:51):
I mean, it's a screen that doesn't just curve a bit on
the sides.
Imagine it flowing like awaterfall over all four edges
top, bottom, left, right.
Ida (04:00):
Whoa, so no metal frame visible from the front at all.
Allen (04:04):
That seems to be the idea Completely eliminating the
traditional bezels and,crucially, no cutouts, no notch,
no dynamic island, not even apinhole for the camera, just
screen, a truly uninterruptedview, for the first time.
Ida (04:19):
Okay, hold on.
No camera hole.
Where does the front camera go?
And face ID?
How does that work?
Allen (04:24):
Ah, that's the multi-million dollar question,
isn't it?
This is where the reallycutting edge tech comes in.
We're talking under displayface ID sensors and an under
display front camera.
Ida (04:33):
Hiding them under the pixels.
Allen (04:35):
Exactly Hiding all those sensors in the camera beneath
the actual screen array.
The massive challenge isn'tjust hiding them, it's making
sure they still work properly.
You can't compromise face IDsecurity or have terrible selfie
quality.
So if Apple actually pulls thisoff effectively, it's a huge
testament to their skills inoptics, miniaturization, sensor
tech, making the screen totallyimmersive without losing key
(04:58):
features.
Ida (04:58):
That really is an engineering feat.
And physically, how do theyeven make a display bend over
all four edges like that?
That sounds fragile.
Allen (05:05):
Well.
Reports, particularly from ETNews in South Korea, suggest
Apple is deep into exploringsomething called four-edge
bending OLED technology.
Ida (05:15):
Four-edge bending OK.
Allen (05:16):
Yeah, it's not just a gentle curve.
It's about physically shapingthe flexible OLED panner itself
around all four sides to getthat completely borderless look.
It's a massive step up indisplay manufacturing, pushing
flexible OLEDs to their absolutelimit.
Ida (05:32):
It's wild how long Apple seems to have been thinking
about this, though I feel likethe idea of an all-glass iPhone
has been floating around forages Patents maybe.
Allen (05:39):
Oh, for years.
You're absolutely right.
Apple actually filed a patentapplication detailing glass body
construction way back in 2014.
It was published in 2016.
2014, wow, yeah, and thatpatent talked about how a glass
enclosure could improve thingslike water resistance, antenna
performance, because glassdoesn't block signals like metal
can, and even scratchresistance.
Ida (06:00):
So this glass wing idea isn't just some sudden
brainstorm.
Allen (06:04):
Not at all.
It feels like the culminationof well over a decade of
internal R&D, Slowly, piece bypiece, moving towards this
vision of a device that feelslike a single polished piece of
glass, that pure, uninterruptedscreen.
Ida (06:20):
It really puts the journey into perspective From the
original iPhone to thispotential glass wing.
Let's maybe trace thatevolution a bit and also peek
behind the curtain at how Appleactually built something this
ambitious.
Allen (06:32):
Definitely.
If you look at the big picture,the past, all screen really
kicked off with the iPhone X in2017.
That was the first big moveditching the home button,
bringing in Face ID and, yes,the notch.
Ida (06:44):
The notch Divisive at first , but it pushed the screen
closer to the edges.
Allen (06:48):
Right, Then fast forward to the iPhone 14 Pro and the
notch evolves into the dynamicisland.
Apple cleverly turned ahardware necessity into this
interactive software feature.
Ida (06:57):
Yeah, that was a smart pivot.
Allen (06:58):
And now the next logical step seems to be getting rid of
any black cutout.
Just pure display Ultimateseamlessness.
Ida (07:04):
It's like this constant refinement.
But OK, how does Apple go froma concept like Glasswing or a
patent from 2014 to an actualphone you can buy?
Allen (07:15):
Yeah.
Ida (07:15):
What are those secretive development stages really like?
Allen (07:18):
It's incredibly rigorous, not just sketching and building
.
It's a complex, multi-stageprocess, really detailed.
Ida (07:26):
Does it start with, just like physical models, things you
can hold?
Allen (07:29):
Pretty much.
They start with design mock-ups.
These often aren't functionalat all, just the casing, maybe
made of different materials,initially, like early plastic
mock-ups, before settling onaluminum and glass.
It's all about nailing the lookand feel, the ergonomics.
Ida (07:43):
Okay, so they get the shape right, then they start breaking
it.
Allen (07:45):
Ah, basically.
Next up are the drop teststages.
Here they take the corestructural bits the frame, the
glass and really put themthrough the ringer Durability
tests, water resistance tests,often using dummy parts inside.
Ida (07:57):
And the results feed back into the design.
Allen (08:00):
Directly.
If something fails, they haveto tweak the design, maybe
reinforce certain areas, changematerials.
It ensures the final phone canactually survive being dropped
you dropped.
Ida (08:09):
Makes sense.
When does it actually startworking like a phone?
Allen (08:12):
That's the prototype stage, often called proto one,
proto two, etc.
This is the first time they tryto build fully functional units
.
They can still look prettyrough, might run very basic
internal software, sometimescalled non-UI.
Ios, just focused on testing ifthe core components the chips,
the sensors actually worktogether.
Ida (08:31):
So they might look quite different from the final product
.
Allen (08:33):
Oh, absolutely, and this is where they validate the
fundamental engineering choices.
Ida (08:38):
Is this where features might get tested and maybe even
cut, like those rumored solidstate buttons for the iPhone 15
Pro?
Allen (08:45):
Exactly that leads into the next big phase, evt, or
engineering validation testing.
This stage has multiplesub-stages and it's all about
perfecting the hardware.
And, yes, this is whereexperimental features like the
haptic buttons, codenamedProject Bongo, get put through
intense testing.
Ida (09:02):
Ah, project Bongo, I remember that leak.
Allen (09:04):
Right and sometimes, like with Bongo, features tested in
EVT don't make the final cut.
Maybe they're too complex tomanufacture reliably, or too
expensive or just don't meetApple's quality bar.
Evt is a critical filter.
These units still run thatnon-UI software usually.
Ida (09:21):
OK, so EVT irons out the hardware kinks.
What's next?
Allen (09:25):
After EVT you get DVT, which stands for Design,
Validation, Testing.
Now they're ensuring thehardware works and the design is
manufacturable at scale.
Dvt units look very close tothe final product.
Ida (09:36):
Is this when they send units out for approvals?
Allen (09:38):
Yes, this is typically when devices go to regulatory
bodies like the FCC and also tocarriers for network testing.
Those are sometimes called CRBunits running a special carry.
Os, dvt units are oftendevelopment fused, meaning
engineers have easier access fordebugging.
Ida (09:52):
Okay, getting really close.
Now what's the final stepbefore it hits the assembly
lines?
Allen (09:56):
That's PVT or production validation testing.
The design is locked.
These units are basicallyidentical to what you'll buy.
The whole focus here is onrefining the manufacturing
process, making sure they canbuild millions of them perfectly
.
Sometimes software engineersget PVTE ninjas running internal
UI, ios with upcoming featuresfor testing.
Ida (10:17):
And then mass production.
Allen (10:18):
Then it's MP.
Mass production, final assembly, final quality control checks,
often using non-UI iOS again,Then loading the public release
iOS, boxing them up and shippingthem out.
Ida (10:28):
Wow, that is a journey.
It really makes you appreciatethe complexity behind even
seemingly small design changesand it explains why these really
revolutionary leaps take time.
Allen (10:38):
It absolutely does.
It shows the sheer amount ofengineering, testing and
refinement involved.
Nothing gets released by chance.
Ida (10:44):
Okay.
So for a device like the iPhone20, pushing boundaries like
that, they'll need some serioussupporting tech too.
Let's talk power.
Battery life is always huge.
How do you power a super thin,all-glass, all-screen phone?
Allen (10:56):
Yeah, battery tech is going to be absolutely critical.
The rumors here are prettyexciting, pointing towards a
major shift Maybe solid-statebatteries or something called
pure silicon battery technology.
Ida (11:07):
Silicon.
What's that?
Or?
Allen (11:09):
something called pure silicon battery technology.
Silicon, what's that?
The leaks talk about using 100%silicon for the anode instead
of the graphite used in currentlithium-ion batteries.
Theoretically, this offers muchhigher energy density, meaning
longer battery life in the samespace, or maybe even a thinner
battery, plus potentially slowerdegradation and faster charging
.
Ida (11:27):
That sounds like a game-changer, especially if the
design is getting thinner.
Allen (11:31):
It really could be.
For a device pushing aestheticboundaries like Glasswing, a
breakthrough in battery densityand efficiency isn't just nice
to have, it's almost essential.
Ida (11:40):
So better battery, but it'll also need serious brains
right, especially with AIbecoming such a big focus.
Allen (11:46):
Definitely, you could expect major performance
upgrades.
There's talk about using highbandwidth memory HBM.
Ida (11:51):
HBM like in high-end graphics cards.
Allen (11:54):
Sort of yeah, bringing that kind of memory bandwidth to
mobile could unlock reallypowerful on-device AI features.
Think real-time translationhappening instantly on your
phone, super complex photo andvideo editing without lag, much
richer AR experiences, allprocessed locally privately.
Ida (12:12):
So the phone itself becomes much more intelligent.
Allen (12:14):
That's the idea A next-gen processor combined with
something like HBM could handleincredibly complex tasks.
Right there in your hand, a newlevel of personal AI.
Ida (12:25):
That's a seriously futuristic package, but
interestingly, Gurman alsomentioned another potential
future iPhone possibly arrivingeven before this 20th
anniversary model, right?
Allen (12:35):
Logical.
Ida (12:36):
He did.
Yeah, Gurman's reportingsuggests a foldable iPhone might
actually launch by the end of2026.
So before the rumored 2027release of the iPhone 20.
Allen (12:45):
So two potentially revolutionary designs in
development.
It looks like it Interesting.
So two potentiallyrevolutionary designs in
development.
It looks like it.
It suggests Apple might beexploring multiple pads for the
future of the iPhonesimultaneously the foldable
could cater to people wantingthat larger tablet-like screen
that folds down, while the glasswing iPhone 20 aims for that
ultimate pure monolithic slabexperience.
(13:07):
A multi-pronged attack on thefuture, then Seems that way
Hedging bets maybe, or justrecognizing different users want
different things from afuturistic device.
Ida (13:17):
Well, that brings us towards the end of this deep
dive.
It's genuinely exciting tothink about where Apple might be
heading with this iPhone 20concept.
Allen (13:24):
Absolutely.
The iPhone 20, potentiallycodenamed Glass Wing, feels like
it could be trulytransformative.
That vision full glass body,zero cutouts, zero bezels,
powered by under-display tech,and that four-edge bending OLED.
Ida (13:38):
Yeah.
Allen (13:38):
It's the result of years chasing that seamless screen
dream.
Ida (13:41):
And you add in the potential for breakthrough
battery tech like Pure Silicon,plus next-gen AI performance
with things like HBM, it reallyfeels like it could live up to
being an anniversary leap.
Allen (13:51):
It does.
It's not just an iteration, itfeels like a redefinition,
following that path from theiPhone X through the dynamic
island, now potentially tocomplete screen purity.
Ida (14:01):
And understanding those incredibly detailed prototype
stages.
Evt, dvt, pvt really highlightsthe enormous effort required to
boss such a vision to life.
It's not just design, it'shardcore engineering.
Allen (14:14):
Exactly Pushing boundaries doesn't happen
overnight.
Ida (14:17):
So here's something to think about as we wrap up.
As the phone itself, thephysical object potentially gets
closer to near invisibilitywith this kind of full glass,
completely uninterrupted screen.
What does that truly seamlessexperience mean for how you
interact with your digital life?
How might it subtly or maybenot so subtly change your
relationship with the actualdevice in your hand?
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