Apple’s secret plans for thinner, foldable iPhones

Apple plans to introduce thinner and foldable iPhones in a bid to revive growth in its smartphone division, which has seen stagnation due to minor upgrades in recent years.

Starting next year, Apple will launch a thinner iPhone model, aimed to be more affordable with a simplified camera system.

Alongside this, the company is developing two foldable devices: a larger one resembling a laptop and a smaller foldable iPhone.

Both foldables have faced development challenges, particularly with the hinge mechanism and flexible display cover. Current foldables do not meet Apple’s standards for thinness and energy efficiency, causing delays in market entry.

Foldable phone

While Apple initially planned to release the larger foldable first, it now appears the foldable iPhone will come sooner, potentially by 2026, although further technical challenges could extend this timeline.

Apple is eager to find new growth avenues, as its iPhone business, which represents about half of its revenue, struggles with a less than 1% projected revenue growth for fiscal 2024. Analysts indicate that Apple is focusing on hardware innovation to drive upgrades, with the last significant redesign occurring in 2017.

Efforts like Apple Intelligence have not yet significantly boosted demand, while foldables remain a niche market, with competitors like Samsung facing challenges as well.