From foldables to a new Magic Mouse: what's in Apple's pipeline
Little has changed in terms of iPhone design lately. From 2025, observers expect fresh air and entirely new devices, including a 19" foldable.
(Image: Sebastian Trepesch)
Fundamental changes to the iPhone design are becoming clearer on the horizon. Observers expect the first upheaval in Apple's smartphone line-up as early as next year: part of the iPhone 17 series scheduled for fall 2025 is a new, significantly thinner model with a slimmed-down camera system, as the Wall Street Journal now reports, citing informed sources. It will be priced below the Pro series, which Apple sells in Germany from 1,200 euros.
The report underpins the long-standing rumors about an "iPhone 17 Air", which is likely to replace the previous Plus model. The latter is considered to be in comparatively low demand. There was also recent speculation that Apple would remove the SIM card slot from the iPhone 17 in other countries.
Foldable iPhone, then huge 18.8" foldable
According to the report, major innovations are not expected until 2026. According to the report, Apple will bring its first foldable to market – after a long development period. Key components have not yet met Apple's expectations, writes the business newspaper. Apple experimented with various designs and ultimately opted for a foldable screen that folds inwards. Whether an additional display will be installed on the outside, as other foldable manufacturers do, remains to be seen. According to the Wall Street Journal, if technical challenges such as the hinge system cannot be solved in time, the foldable iPhone will probably have to wait until 2027.
At the same time, Apple is reportedly working on a giant foldable that offers a diagonal screen area of almost 19 inches when unfolded – the equivalent of two 11" iPads laid side by side. The project remains a dream of the future for now, with a launch not expected until 2028 at the earliest – at prices well over 2,000 US dollars.
It remains unclear which Apple operating system will ultimately run on a foldable of this size. One report mentions iPadOS, which will then also support Mac applications. So far, Apple has kept tablet and laptop/desktop operating systems clearly separate. Although iOS apps have been running on macOS for a long time, the reverse path – a macOS on the iPad – remains blocked by Apple, even virtualization is prevented.
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New Magic Mouse allegedly in the works
Apple's design team is also busy updating the aging Magic Mouse, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. A new edition should eliminate points of criticism, including the charging port hidden on the underside. Apple recently switched this from Lightning to USB-C. A new Magic Mouse generation is not expected until 2027 at the earliest.
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