Jeff Pu, an analyst at Haitong International Securities, has forecasted some bold steps for Apple in the upcoming two years. His predictions suggest Apple will release a ‘Slim’ version of the iPhone 17 and will enter the market of foldable devices
Analyst Pu has stated that Apple is speeding up its work on foldable devices. He notes that signs of Apple’s foldable products are becoming more evident in supply chain reviews. The website 9to5Mac reported on Pu’s insights regarding Apple’s plans for these devices.
It has been proposed before that Apple might not start with a foldable iPhone. Instead, they may experiment with a smaller product category, such as a foldable iPad or a hybrid of a MacBook and an iPad. Although it targets fewer customers, Apple leads the global tablet market much more than it does the smartphone market. This dominance makes it a good area for testing new ideas.
The investor note from Pu supports this idea, predicting a 20.3-inch foldable device to be released in late 2025. He also forecasts that an iPhone Fold or iPhone Flip will be launched towards the end of 2026.
Currently, there is limited information about these devices. According to Pu, the first foldable device will be a completely new product category for Apple, targeting the very high-end market. This isn’t unexpected, considering the typical prices of foldable devices and Apple’s tendency to offer premium products.
If this device matches the performance of a MacBook Pro and includes a foldable screen, it could be priced over $2,500, nearing the $3,500 cost of the Vision Pro.
Two potential sizes for the foldable iPhone are being considered: 7.9 inches and 8.3 inches.
The website 9to5Mac describes the planned release dates of 2025/2026 as an “incredibly aggressive timeline.”
Although this seems quick, Apple has likely been developing this technology in secret for a while. If a foldable iPhone launches at the end of 2026, it will come about seven years after Samsung introduced its Galaxy Fold in September 2019.
However, these are just predictions from Pu for now. It will be intriguing to see if other experts confirm these details or suggest a different timeline in the coming weeks and months.
In a research note mentioned by 9to5Mac, the analyst suggests that Apple will stop producing its less successful ‘Plus’ model in 2026. It will be replaced by the iPhone 17 ‘Slim.’
This new model is expected to feature a 6.6-inch screen, which is larger than the anticipated 6.1-inch screen of the iPhone 17 but smaller than the 6.7-inch screen on the current iPhone 15 Plus.
Pu mentions that the standard iPhone 17 models will include either an A18 or A19 chipset, supported by 8GB of RAM. He also notes that these models, along with the smaller 6.3-inch iPhone 17 Pro, will have a “more complex” aluminum design.
The 6.9-inch iPhone 17 Pro Max will keep its titanium construction and feature a “narrowed Dynamic Island.” This change will be made possible by new “metalens” technology in the proximity sensor, which could greatly shrink the size of the Face ID area.
The analyst believes that both Pro models will use the A19 chipset. However, his prediction about memory is more unexpected.
He suggests that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will each have 12GB of RAM, a significant increase from the current 8GB. This might suggest that Apple plans to enhance its on-device AI capabilities, requiring better internal components.
Pu also notes that all four iPhone 17 models will receive an important update to their front-facing cameras. The resolution of these cameras is expected to double from 12 megapixels to 24 megapixels, a prediction also previously made by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
What we think?
I think Apple will really make a foldable device next year. They might start with something like a foldable iPad because they do well with tablets.
Jeff Pu says it’ll be a high-end product, so it will probably be very expensive. Apple always tries to do things perfectly, so I bet their foldable device will be impressive. I’m curious to see if they can actually release it by 2025.