Apple’s iPhone sales have declined in recent years, primarily because the company has focused more on software updates than hardware improvements. However, Apple hopes this trend will change next year, as it plans to introduce new handsets with significant design upgrades.
There has been considerable discussion recently about the upcoming “iPhone 17 Air,” which is anticipated to be the thinnest iPhone ever made. It is expected to be released in September alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is also working on another significant update: its first foldable devices.
The first of these devices, which we can refer to as the “iPhone Fold,” is expected to have a display larger than the iPhone 16 Pro Max when unfolded. Apple’s other foldable product in development appears to be even more ambitious; it is thought to unfold to about 19 inches, suggesting that this device will be more akin to a “Mac Fold” than an “iPad Fold.”
Apple expects to release the smaller of these products in 2026 or 2027, with the second one to follow. Both products have been in development for years, and Apple has been refining them and focusing on features that some competitor products have been criticized for, such as folding mechanisms, thinness, and energy efficiency. Earlier this month, a display expert noted that Apple’s first foldable device will be more like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, meaning both devices are expected to feature inward-folding designs on a larger scale.
The 2025 iPhone Air is anticipated to replace the iPhone Plus within the iPhone lineup. Due to its thinner design, this model is expected to have a simplified camera system, which will help reduce production costs. It is projected to be priced lower than the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models. A more traditional iPhone 17 model is also expected next year.
As a longtime iPhone user, I am more excited about the iPhone Fold than the iPhone Air. However, I recognize that, regardless of what Apple offers, it will be a first-generation product that may come with its share of issues. Still, I believe the company has learned from other manufacturers, such as Samsung and OnePlus, which have already introduced foldable products. Apple will likely consider the challenges and successes others have faced when developing its offerings.
Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.
Some iPhone users report overheating when using Apple Intelligence
After a long wait, iOS 18.2 has finally rolled out to the public at large and unlocked more Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground, Genmoji, and an upgraded Mail app. It might have also introduced a way to keep your hands warm on these frosty winter days, according to some users.
Reddit user u/dsdxp posted on the iPhone subreddit that they had unlocked a secret feature in the iPhone 16 Pro. The comment was obviously sardonic, but many other users responded with their own stories of troubling temperatures from their iPhones. The common element between all of the stories was the Image Playground app and the excessive heat it creates while in use.
Read more
Apple is about to stop selling multiple iPhones in Europe. Here’s why
The iPhone SE and iPhone 14 series will no longer be available for purchase in Europe at the end of the year. In an effort to make technology more consumer-friendly, the European Union ruled that any mobile device sold must be able to charge through USB-C, according to iGeneration. While more modern entries in Apple’s lineup already meet those guidelines, the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 do not.
These aren’t the newest additions to Apple’s lineup, but the iPhone SE and the iPhone 14 series are still sold in Europe. These will be pulled from shelves as the deadline approaches. Customers have plenty of options, but this decision will leave the European market without an iPhone SE option until the next model releases in 2025.
Read more
Apple’s mysterious iPhone 17 Air is one step closer to becoming a reality
For months, rumors have indicated that Apple plans to remove the iPhone Plus from the 2025 iPhone 17 lineup, and replace it with an entirely new model that might be called the “iPhone 17 Air.” A new report suggests that this phone is now closer to becoming a reality.
According to Digitimes, the new phone has entered the initial stage of manufacturing, known as the new product introduction (NPI) phase. At this stage, Apple and its manufacturing partners finalize a blueprint for creating the phone. It’s a significant step in the process.
Read more