Jeff Pu, a well-known analyst at Haitong International Securities, has made some bold predictions about Apple’s future over the next two years. Phu said a new, slimmer iPhone 17 model could be coming soon. He also hinted that Apple will move into the foldable phone market.
Citing increased supply chain activity, Pu suggested that Apple is ramping up development of foldable devices. 9to5Mac reported on Pu’s insight into Apple’s foldable plans.
The rumor mill is buzzing with speculation about Apple’s first-ever foldable smartphone, dubbed the iPhone Fold. Previous leaks suggested that the device would be released in 2023, but that prediction has not come true.
According to recent reports, Apple may choose to delay development of a foldable iPhone and experiment with another category of foldable devices first, perhaps a foldable iPad or a MacBook-iPad hybrid. Despite having a smaller customer base compared to smartphones, Apple has a very strong position in the global tablet market.
This makes it a strategic testing ground for new technologies with potentially lower risks. Underscoring the credibility of this strategy, Pu’s note to investors suggests that his 20.3-inch foldable device could arrive in late 2025, with an iPhone Fold or iPhone Flip likely to arrive by the end of 2026. It is predicted that there will be.
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Unfortunately, details about these devices are still lacking. Despite the lack of official confirmation, Pu has suggested that the first foldable model will be his Apple’s new premium tier, targeting the ultra-high-end market.
Targeted at the ultra-high-end market, this first foldable device could boast MacBook Pro-level power and a foldable display, priced at over £1994.23 ($2,500), compared to the Vision Pro’s price of £2,791.91 ($3,500). dollar) may be comparable.
Analysts report that Apple is considering two screen sizes for its foldable iPhone: 7.9 inches and 8.3 inches. 9to5Mac believes that the 2025/2026 launch window is ambitious, especially since few details have been revealed.
However, Apple may be continuing internal development, even if the details have not been revealed yet. A foldable iPhone will arrive by late 2026, roughly seven years after the Samsung Galaxy Fold debuted in September 2019.
For now, these are just Pu’s predictions. It will be interesting to see whether other analysts offer similar timelines or different perspectives in the coming months.
Apple to announce “slim” model of iPhone 17?
In a research note obtained by 9to5Mac, Pu predicts that Apple will discontinue the Plus model, which is reportedly selling poorly, in 2026 and introduce the iPhone 17 Slim as its replacement. are doing. Apple is still silent about its plans to release a slim model, but its specifications have been revealed online.
The slim model is expected to come with a huge 6.6-inch display. On the other hand, the iPhone 17 may come with a 6.1-inch panel. The Plus model is likely to have the largest 6.7-inch screen.
Pu claims that the standard iPhone 17 model will come with an A18 or A19 chipset paired with 8GB RAM. Along with the 6.3-inch iPhone 17 Pro, both of these models are expected to be housed in a “more complex” aluminum frame.
iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display. This model retains the titanium construction of its predecessor and features a “Narrow Dynamic Island” with new “Metalens” technology powering the proximity sensor. This could significantly reduce the footprint of Face ID.
Pu says the Pro model will draw power from the capable A19 chipset. He also said that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will each have 12GB RAM, unlike the current model, which has 8GB RAM. This is a sign that Apple recognizes that its on-device AI plans require robust internal structures to be successful.