iPhone 17 Air is cheaper than expected, foldable iPhone reportedly set to launch in 2026

It is rumored that the iPhone 17, scheduled to be released in 2025, will have a new model called the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. The Wall Street Journal has reported details of the iPhone 17 Air. It has also been reported that the foldable iPhone that Apple is rumored to be developing will be released in 2026.

Apple Plans Thinner, Foldable iPhones to Revive Growth - WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/tech/apple-thin-iphone-foldable-computer-plans-dbb4286c

WSJ: iPhone 17 Air to be cheaper than expected; foldable iPhone on track for 2026 - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2024/12/15/wsj-iphone-17-air-cheaper-foldable/

The release of a new model of the iPhone 17 called the ultra-thin 'iPhone 17 Air' has been reported by analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo, who handles highly sensitive Apple-related leak information, and Mark Gurman, who is well- known for Apple-related leak information.

Will the iPhone lineup be revamped in 2025, the Plus model will be discontinued, and the ultra-thin 'Air' model will appear? What will the specs of the Air model be? - GIGAZINE

The Wall Street Journal also reported that the iPhone 17 Air will be released soon, and that it will be thinner than the current model, which is about 8mm thick. According to information obtained from a person familiar with Apple's development plans for the new iPhone, the iPhone 17 Air will be cheaper than the iPhone 17 Pro, and the camera system will be simplified to reduce costs.

When the existence of the ultra-thin iPhone was first reported, The Information reported that the iPhone 17 Air would be more expensive than the Pro model .

At the time of writing, the latest model, the iPhone 16 Pro, starts at $999 (159,800 yen including tax in Japan), so if the iPhone 17 Air is cheaper than the iPhone 17 Pro, the price of the iPhone 17 Air is expected to be about $900 (about 138,000 yen), the same as the iPhone 16 Plus. The 'Plus' model is said to disappear with the iPhone 17 series.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the iPhone 17 Air will be 'a new option for consumers who want a more refined smartphone and don't mind compromising on performance. Apple is definitely betting big on the aesthetic appeal of the ultra-thin form factor.

How thin will the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air be? - GIGAZINE

Rumors that Apple is developing a foldable iPhone have been circulating since around 2019. The basis for the rumors was the existence of a foldable smartphone in Apple's patent applications.

In 2023, the managing director of Samsung Display, a Samsung subsidiary responsible for display manufacturing, was reported to have said, 'We are working with Apple to develop a foldable display,' making the idea of a foldable iPhone more of a reality.

Samsung executive says 'We are working with Apple to develop foldable displays' - GIGAZINE

The Wall Street Journal is now predicting that a foldable iPhone and a foldable Mac will be released. The foldable Mac will have a 19-inch display when unfolded, which is consistent with Bloomberg's report . It seems that the foldable Mac was originally scheduled to be released first, but at the time of writing, the release of the foldable iPhone has been prioritized.

And when the foldable iPhone's screen is unfolded, it will have a larger display size than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display, so it will be at least 7 inches.

According to reports, Apple was developing the device so that the display would be on the outside when folded, but at the time of writing, it is recommended that the display be folded inward, as with other foldable smartphones. The foldable iPhone has been in development for a long time, but it has been facing problems with the hinge and display cover, which has caused delays in development. In July 2024, a patent filed by Apple for an 'electronic device with a durable foldable display' was approved by the authorities.

Apple executives are reportedly planning to release a foldable iPhone in 2026, but it could take longer if development doesn't go smoothly.

In addition, it has been reported that Apple will release new AirTags in 2025. According to this, the new AirTags will be equipped with an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip equivalent to that in the iPhone 15, which will enable 'ultra-precise device location detection ranges three times that of the previous model.'