After years of tedious changes in the appearance of models, it seems that Apple is finally planning a "big move" in the next two years
According to sources familiar with Apple's plans, starting next year, the company plans to launch an iPhone that is about 8 millimeters thinner than existing models. The price of this model will be cheaper than the Pro model, using a simplified camera system to reduce costs.
The above-mentioned person stated that the company also plans to launch two foldable devices, striving to release them in 2026:
A larger device can be used as a laptop, with a screen almost as big as some desktop monitors when unfolded - up to 19 inches.
The smaller model will have a larger display size when unfolded than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, designed to be used as a foldable iPhone.
It is reported that the designs of these two foldable devices have been under development for many years, but some key components are not yet ready, with major challenges including improving hinges and screen protection layers. Jeff Pu, an analyst at Hong Kong brokerage Haitong International Securities, said that currently, foldable phones on the market are not lightweight or energy-efficient enough to meet Apple's standards, which is also the reason why Apple has not entered this field for a long time.
According to people familiar with Apple devices, Apple has tried other different designs, such as placing the display on the outside when the device is folded, but now it tends to adopt an inward folding design.
Is Apple starting to seek change?
Although Apple's initial goal was to launch larger devices to gauge market response, it now appears that the foldable iPhone is likely to be released earlier.
The above-mentioned individuals stated that Apple executives are striving to release this product in 2026, but the company may need another year to address technological challenges. As for ultra-thin phones, Apple will provide another option for consumers who like a stylish appearance and don't mind giving up certain features of the Pro model.
Apple is currently eager to find new ways to accelerate its growth. The smartphone business still accounts for about half of Apple's total revenue, but the iPhone is currently in a period of sluggish sales, with revenue growth of less than 1% in fiscal year 2024. The last major sales growth can be traced back to 2021, when telecom operators provided subsidies for purchasing iPhones to support their thriving 5G network infrastructure.
Guo Mingchi, a renowned analyst at Guolian and Tianfeng International Securities, was one of the first analysts in the market to predict the arrival of new equipment. He stated that Apple executives have been pushing for the early release of new designs. I think things will eventually proceed according to their plan.
Although these updates are not considered major groundbreaking breakthroughs - many Apple competitors are already producing foldable devices - they still represent significant changes in Apple's appearance and functionality over the years. In recent years, the updates to Apple's main product matrix have been relatively small - the major upgrades have mostly focused on chips and cameras, and these updates are increasingly insufficient to encourage users to upgrade their devices at the same speed as in previous years.
Cliff Maldonado, Chief Analyst at BayStreet Research, who studies the smartphone market, stated that the last major redesign of the iPhone was on the iPhone X, which was launched in 2017.
For the recently released iPhone 16 series, Apple has focused its marketing efforts on Apple Intelligence. The new artificial intelligence system is suitable for newer iPhone models, but hardware upgrades are still not significant. Apple Intelligence was not launched when the iPhone 16 was first released in September, but it was later opened to American users in October. The next set of features, including integration with OpenAI's ChatGPT, was released in last Wednesday's system update.
It seems that Apple is seeking to drive user upgrades through hardware innovation, "Maldonado said." The iPhone 16 may be the last Apple phone to lack aesthetics
From a historical perspective, new hardware design has always been the main driving force behind Apple's sales growth. Ten years ago, Apple launched a new size of iPhone 6 Plus, which sparked a wave of growth for the company at that time.
Apple is also seeking new products beyond the iPhone to achieve growth. It is reported that Apple is planning the follow-up products of Vision Pro, but has not yet determined the specific development direction. People familiar with the product say that one of the plans is to provide support for Vision Pro with an iPhone, which may reduce the cost of the device and alleviate its relatively heavy weight. But these people say that early tests have shown that relying solely on iPhone chips may lack the processing power needed to power certain applications.