Apple could be working on two new foldable devices for 2026 and beyond, and the rumored ultra-slim iPhone 17 could be cheaper than you thought.
Per the Wall Street Journal, the paper has corroborated many of the key details of the iPhone 17 Air, calling it a “bid to revive growth” after many years of incremental upgrades.
The details are as follows:
“Starting next year, Apple plans to introduce an iPhone that will be thinner than the approximately 8-millimeter profile of current models, said people familiar with the company’s plans. The model is intended to be cheaper than Pro models, with a simplified camera system to reduce costs.”
It was thought that the anticipated iPhone 17 Air could be Apple’s most expensive iPhone to date, retailing for even more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The Wall Street Journal has begun reporting that it’ll be cheaper than the Pro models.
At present, the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999, placing the purported iPhone 17 Air around the same $900 price point of the iPhone 16 Plus that it could potentially replace.
Apple is also said to be working on a foldable iPhone and a larger, foldable notebook. The notebook is expected to feature a 19-inch display when unfolded. This device was initially expected to launch first, but apparently, the foldable iPhone is taking priority. The Journal has reported that the foldable iPhone would “unfold to a display size that would be larger than an iPhone 16 Pro Max,” making the display at least 7 inches. The iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch display.
Apple is said to have been experimenting with displays that would be on the outside of the device when folding, but the company is now favoring an inward-facing fold, similar to other devices on the market. These devices have been in development for a considerable amount of time, and Apple has faced issues concerning the hinge and display cover, which have resulted in delays.
Apple executives have been pushing for a 2026 release for the foldable iPhone, though the company may need more time to get things to their desired state.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via 9to5Mac and The Wall Street Journal