Apple Preparing 'Most Significant Overhaul in the iPhone's History'

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I'm not sure. Apple have had some misses recently. Vision Pro, iPhone Air.

I’ll concede Vision Pro hasn’t hit yet but that’s an entirely different category with a completely different adoption curve. Comparing that to a foldable iPhone isn’t apples to apples. The iPhone Air or any thinner/lighter redesign is still the same core product same slab, same use case, just refined. A foldable is a different animal. That’s not iteration, that’s a whole new form factor and effectively a new lane inside the iPhone lineup. If Apple enters foldables, they’re not just tweaking the phone they’re creating a second flagship category. That’s exactly the kind of move where they historically wait, then show up with something that actually scales.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I think a tri-fold would be perfection - having one device always wasted/unused feels bad

Didn’t Samsung already cancel theirs after it had been out just a few months?

 

[turbineseaplane]

I’ll concede Vision Pro hasn’t hit yet but that’s an entirely different category with a completely different adoption curve. Comparing that to a foldable iPhone isn’t apples to apples.

I’m not sure it’s much of a curve at all.
It seems to be more of a flat line or a downward line.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

But I guess the question is why are you so adamantly defending those two products. Manufacturing forecasts were cut significantly. Clearly they didn't live up to expectation. That's not even disputable. You may like them, yes. But, that doesn't mean they didn't flop.

On the other hand…

iPhone Air Said to Be Roughly Twice as Popular as iPhone 16 Plus

While it certainly has its critics, the iPhone Air appears to have validated Apple's decision to retire the iPhone Plus, if new results from an independent analysis are anything to go by. Crowdsourced Speedtest data published by Ookla suggests the iPhone Air captured 6.8 percent of iPhone 17...

www.macrumors.com

We really can never know if a product is a “flop” or not by going off of the reporting, seeing as the reporting is so all over the place.
In fact, back in November, there were literally two articles on this exact website published with an hours of each other, one which said that Apple was canceling future iPhone Air plans due to low sales, and another of which said that Apple was planning an iPhone Air2 with a second camera for 2026.
So… which is it? You and I certainly don’t know…

 

[turbineseaplane]

We really can never know if a product is a “flop” or not by going off of the reporting, seeing as the reporting is so all over the place.
In fact, back in November, there were literally two articles on this exact website published with an hours of each other, one which said that Apple was canceling future iPhone Air plans due to low sales, and another of which said that Apple was planning an iPhone Air2 with a second camera for 2026.
So… which is it? You and I certainly don’t know…

It's a flop by Apple standards.

I wouldn't take much from a second version.

The Mini had 2 versions also. I think they probably plan to do 2 versions at a minimum to justify the R&D and effort in the first place.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

We're coming awfully close to the point at which you might as well just use your cellular-connected iPad mini as a smartphone -- and for a lot less money than this iPhone Ultra Max Pro Fold is going to cost. Or maybe it's about time for a cellular-connected Mac nano?

iPad Mini does not fit in a pocket. That is the huge difference.

 

[turbineseaplane]

But I guess the question is why are you so adamantly defending those two products. Manufacturing forecasts were cut significantly. Clearly they didn't live up to expectation. That's not even disputable. You may like them, yes. But, that doesn't mean they didn't flop.

Exactly. 🙌
The same applies to me and my iPhone 13 Mini.

 

[Maxis]

My first thought was “never”, but remembering all scratches in my phone display, it would be actually a very good thing to be protected .

 

[acblue94]

Innovative? lol you know Samsung have been doing this for many years, right?

They still have an ugly crease. Samsung cares about being first not perfecting things. No crease is innovation.

 

[acblue94]

I misread the headline to say ‘iOS’ instead of ‘iPhone’ in the hope that they are going to reverse Liquid Glass.

Wishful thinking obviously.

Liquid Glass is amazing.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

But I guess the question is why are you so adamantly defending those two products. Manufacturing forecasts were cut significantly. Clearly they didn't live up to expectation. That's not even disputable. You may like them, yes. But, that doesn't mean they didn't flop.

As I see it even if a product "didn't live up to expectation" that does not make a product a "flop." Do enough people worldwide like the iPhone Air to justify it versus the cost of continuing it? Probably. Is the AVP a useful new tech direction for Apple? Probably. And both those products are beautifully done hardware.

 

[rulymammoth]

On the other hand…

iPhone Air Said to Be Roughly Twice as Popular as iPhone 16 Plus

While it certainly has its critics, the iPhone Air appears to have validated Apple's decision to retire the iPhone Plus, if new results from an independent analysis are anything to go by. Crowdsourced Speedtest data published by Ookla suggests the iPhone Air captured 6.8 percent of iPhone 17...

www.macrumors.com

We really can never know if a product is a “flop” or not by going off of the reporting, seeing as the reporting is so all over the place.
In fact, back in November, there were literally two articles on this exact website published with an hours of each other, one which said that Apple was canceling future iPhone Air plans due to low sales, and another of which said that Apple was planning an iPhone Air2 with a second camera for 2026.
So… which is it? You and I certainly don’t know…

Actually, we can. Reporting is not "all over the place" about key facts. It was clear that Apple cut its manufacturing forecasts for the Air significantly. By over 70-80% if I recall correctly. If that's not a flop, I don't know what is.

In addition, in many countries, the Air's price has been cut, even at Apple. When was the last time you saw that happen to an Apple product within a half year of its launch?

All that said, I do think the Air was valuable in the sense that it created hype for Apple with a relatively new form factor. I'm sure some of the success of the 17 series is due to all the publicity that came with the Air. So it wasn't as big of a dud as the 16 Plus, but it definitely hasn't been a success, in Apple's terms.

I'm not arguing that the Air won't be a success in the future. From what people are saying, it's one good camera and a couple of other revisions away from being a great phone. Maybe that happens next year. But, to not admit that the Air wasn't a dud this year is a bit puzzling.

 

[acblue94]

While it might be very innovative, we'll have to wait and see if people are willing to pay $2,000 or more. Especially in the current economic climate.

I am tempted because of the small size (when folded), but the price is simply too high for me.

You have an issue with the economic climate? Speak for yourself. Things are going great. Maybe not a couple years ago but a lot better now.

 

[rulymammoth]

Liquid Glass is amazing.

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic, but if you're not, I agree. I do enjoy Liquid Glass. Not that it's perfect, but I do enjoy it.

 

[constantsnags!]

This from ChatGPT so take it with a grain of salt, but still the point is there:
“Approximately 60% of U.S. consumers have used installment plans for purchases in the past year, with 55% of iPhone buyers and 44% of Android buyers opting for such plans.”

The vast majority of consumers are never paying full price for their phone, at least not upfront.

That’s why it almost every iPhone event Apple says that you can “get $1000+ off of the brand new iPhone 17 Pro Max with qualifying trade-in and installment plan from qualifying carriers”.
Literally the very first thing you see when you go to the T-Mobile homepage this morning is “iPhone 17 Pro under $100!”
Same goes for other foldable phones already on the market, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is being advertised from T-Mobile right now as “only $29.17 a month!” Full Price: $1999+ Tax.

The iPhone fold is going to get these exact discounts, it is not going to be people paying $2000 out-of-pocket. Instead, it’s going to be people choosing to pay $29 over 40 months or whatever instead of $25 or so.

Exactly. I have the option of taking a friends and family discount via a friend and paying up front, or paying 0% installments over a few years to my cell carrier. I’m probably not going to be a fold buyer this year, but not handing over a few grand upfront when no interest needs to be paid is an easy choice in most cases.

 

[ry-guy]

I don’t understand the hype of the fold but that’s okay, it’s not for me then.
Innovative seems like such an overused word these days though. You’re not going to do anything different than you do now on your IPhone/ipad . Browse instagram, safari, take photos and play games(probably), messages, email, etc.

I don’t remember what the form factor rumor is, but say it’s the size of my Pro max, i definitely wouldn’t want this phone twice as thick and heavy as it currently is.

But like i said, it’s not for me and that’s ok.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

They still have an ugly crease. Samsung cares about being first not perfecting things. No crease is innovation.

I've not heard anywhere that there will be no crease, just that it will be "less noticeable", which isn't really saying anything at all.

Liquid Glass is amazing.

Subjective. I can't stand it, and don't want to ever have transparency in my OS.

 

[alfonsog]

You know a couple years ago I'd be buying it release day but I'm kind of over it. I don't need an iPad in my pocket. I watch TV on my TV. I do music notation, email, and internet things on my Mac Studio. I don't own a laptop. I have an iPad but honestly I haven't used it in months and I don't know where it is and I should sell it; I was using it as a sheet music reader but real music is easier. I use the iPhone for messaging, music playback, and social media which is now all bots and ads and a complete waste of time so I've cut back drastically. I can get that same high going for a walk. I wouldn't even bring my phone to work except I need the authenticator app to log in then it gets chucked in my bag.

I do use messenger to talk to my 2 best friends and my boyfriend and I hate they discontinued the desktop app so much because now you have to actually be on Facebook on the desktop to use it 🙁 They don't use text messaging, no idea why. Bf is 26 and I've noticed people under 30 use messenger or snapchat or insta to message over text.

 

[transpo1]

Does introducing a new product line really qualify as the “the most significant overhaul ever?” They’re not overhauling or replacing something, just introducing something new. This seems phrased by Gurman to make it seem like all new info.

“They’re introducing the iPhone Fold.”
“Okay.”

“They’re introducing ‘the most significant overhaul” of the iPhone ever.”
“Whoa. What? That’s crazy. Amazing. Can’t wait.”

 

[ab2c4]

Still not interested.

 

[cardfan]

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has high expectations for Apple's first foldable iPhone.

In his Power On newsletter today, he said the foldable iPhone will be "the most significant overhaul in the iPhone's history."

"iPhone 4, iPhone 6 and iPhone X were clearly a big deal, but this is a whole new design," he said.

Like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, the foldable iPhone will reportedly open up like a book, providing users with a large inner screen for watching videos, playing games, and multitasking. iOS 27 is expected to be optimized for the foldable iPhone, allowing for apps to be open side-by-side and for other iPad-like multitasking functionality.

A few months ago, a report said the foldable iPhone will be equipped with a 7.7-inch inner display, and a 5.3-inch outer display. It was initially rumored that the device would have a virtually "crease-free" inner display, but it was later reported that Apple is using technology that "reduces the crease without eliminating it entirely."

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the foldable iPhone to have two rear cameras, one front camera, and a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID.

Apple will likely unveil the foldable iPhone in September this year, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. However, according to analyst Tim Long and Gurman, the foldable iPhone might ship later than the Pro models.

In the U.S., it has been estimated that the foldable iPhone may start at or above $1,999.

​

Article Link: Apple Preparing 'Most Significant Overhaul in the iPhone's History'

Nothing new here. We already knew this.

 

[Icehawk]

This is gonna be one of those some like it, some don't get it, and the rest can't believe how much it costs things.

Maybe it'll be great after a couple generations. Maybe it'll be a one and done. Just find it so interset we went form big phones to thinner phones to flip phones to smart phones to big smart phones and now to "big" and thick folded smartphones.

I mark myself as a hard pass on this. Will wait to see how it is a few gens in but if its significantly thicker than the normal phone, eh...

 

[Tim Cook's Pool Boy]

They seem to be ok boxing in on the iPad? Neo eating at the Pad with Magic Keyboard sales on one end and this taking on the iPad mini. I just traded my Mini in towards a Neo as I was not personally using it and my M2 Air iPad 13 with Magic Keyboard is crying as I haven't touched it since I got the Neo lol. I will keep that one as I DO like to draw but yeah, Apple is going balls out as of late? Maybe Timmy's last stab for a product he can ride out high on. Sure was not the Vision Pro.

 

[svish]

I am eagerly waiting to see the foldable from Apple. However don't think I will get one if it lacks a telephoto lens and FaceID. Think the starting price will be $1999 in the US and in my country it will cost much more due to import duty.

 

[dampfnudel]

Day one buy. Watch, the preorders ship dates will slip within hours. Everyone saying it’s too expensive for the masses is grossly underestimating how many people have the disposable income to make this purchase, and even more who will justify it as a productivity tool. I’ve said it before…pirorties. I know people who spend $2k on Starbucks each year. This isn’t a niche product it’s a demand wave waiting to happen. See you back here when it blows past initial forecasts.

I’m 110 percent sure it will sell out. iJustine and the wannabe iJustines will buy at least three or more by themselves. Let’s see three months later. I’m predicting a sales situation somewhere between the Vision Pro and iPhone Air. Maybe that’s good enough for Apple??? I don’t know. Now, if Apple decides to release a “cheaper” flip iPhone in citrus and blush…boom, sales will explode and have legs for months to come including a sale to me.