Apple Axes Ambitious All-Glass iPhone Project Due to Production Hurdles
Apple has scrapped its ambitious plans to release an all-glass iPhone in 2027, marking two decades since the original iPhone launched. According to Jefferies analyst Edison Lee, manufacturing partners struggled to produce enough defect-free glass units for mass production.
The project was expected to be a major redesign of the iPhone, featuring solid-state buttons, under-display Face ID sensors, and an edge-to-edge screen with no cutouts or notches. However, the poor production yield rates led Apple to downsize its plans and focus on other projects.
Jefferies downgraded Apple stock to 'Underperform' and trimmed its price target to $263.66 following the cancellation of the all-glass iPhone project. The report indicates that the company's pricing roadmap has been affected, with the cancelled model expected to carry a blended retail price of around $2,060.
Apple reportedly intended to use the striking design to boost average selling prices across its lineup at a time when component costs are increasing. However, the slow integration of Apple Intelligence features makes it harder for the company to justify adding extra RAM to base models.