Apple to Unveil New iPhones, Includes Foldable Variant
Apple is set to introduce its newest iPhone models on Wednesday, with expectations that a foldable version will be among them. This event will be led by the company’s new CEO, John Ternus, who stepped into the role on September 1, succeeding Tim Cook.
While competitors like Samsung, Motorola, and Google have already launched foldable smartphones, Apple tends to take its time when it comes to adopting new technologies.
Forrester analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee commented, “The foldable launch is straight out of Apple’s playbook: Wait for the product to work out its kinks and for the market to offer glimpses of viability, then enter and shape the category.” However, he pointed out that foldable phones still account for a tiny segment of the smartphone market. The real test for Apple will be whether it can turn this niche into a substantial new category.
The upcoming iPhone 18 is also expected to come with a higher price tag partly because of a global shortage of memory chips. For context, the price range for the iPhone 17 varies from $799 to $1,999 based on the specific model.
This year, Apple also presented advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly with enhancements to its Siri assistant, placing an emphasis on privacy and everyday usability as the company aims to catch up with its AI competitors.
Chatterjee noted that Ternus’s keynote presentation at the tech giant’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, will set the direction for his vision for Apple’s future.
“John Ternus inherits perhaps the most successful consumer technology juggernaut in modern times. That is both a boon and a burden for him,” Chatterjee remarked. “Tim Cook’s perfected execution, scale, and monetization set a high bar, and Ternus must extend that run. But he must sustain that momentum while positioning Apple to disrupt itself in the near future when the iPhone, or any smartphone for that matter, will cease to be the consumer’s primary conduit to the world.”
Last year’s iPhone 17 series, which included an ultra-thin variant, performed well in the market. This lineup introduced a slimmed-down model branded with the “Air” name, a title Apple previously used for its sleekest iPads and Mac computers.
