Despite some initial confusion about the devices’ mistranslations, a new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple is running a foldable iPhone but is still in the “planning stages. “This dovetails with a November rumor that Apple had entered the “form progression process” for the new form factor.
This means that we probably won’t see an iPhone Flip until 2026 or 2027, as mentioned above.
Kuo notes that the iPhone Flip and iPhone 17 Air, due out this year, will likely only have eSims (digital SIM cards) due to their “ultra-thin” design. It says that with the ban on eSim phones in China, “these two models may face dynamic delivery issues unless their design is changed. “
Kuo did not estimate when Apple will release the iPhone Flip.
Kuo data on other Apple iPhone products besides the iPhone Flip.
He says Apple will be cautious in 2025 for a variety of reasons, adding Trump’s tariffs, which appear to be even stricter than those imposed during Trump’s first term in 2019.
In addition, Kuo claims that shipments of new iPhones are expected to “decline” and that the iPhone 17 Air will increase iPhone sales this year.
Finally, Kuo believes that Apple will struggle with its AI strategy in Apple Intelligence. He attributes this to Apple’s insistence on running AI on devices, while cloud-based ones like ChatGPT have “moved forward rapidly. “
Kuo isn’t “pessimistic” about Apple Intelligence’s long-term prospects, saying it won’t likely gain advantages in hardware or service replacement cycles. Apple is partly blamed, saying they probably wouldn’t qualify or create a subscription service to generate revenue, but also that, according to a similar survey, consumers have shown that they’re interested in AI or Apple’s intelligence.
Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him.
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