Apple’s iPhone sales have declined in recent years, primarily because the company has focused more on software updates than hardware improvements. However, Apple hopes this trend will change next year, as it plans to introduce new handsets with significant design upgrades.
There has been considerable discussion recently about the upcoming “iPhone 17 Air,” which is anticipated to be the thinnest iPhone ever made. It is expected to be released in September alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is also working on another significant update: its first foldable devices.
The first of these devices, which we can refer to as the “iPhone Fold,” is expected to have a display larger than the iPhone 16 Pro Max when unfolded. Apple’s other foldable product in development appears to be even more ambitious; it is thought to unfold to about 19 inches, suggesting that this device will be more akin to a “Mac Fold” than an “iPad Fold.”
Apple expects to release the smaller of these products in 2026 or 2027, with the second one to follow. Both products have been in development for years, and Apple has been refining them and focusing on features that some competitor products have been criticized for, such as folding mechanisms, thinness, and energy efficiency. Earlier this month, a display expert noted that Apple’s first foldable device will be more like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, meaning both devices are expected to feature inward-folding designs on a larger scale.
The 2025 iPhone Air is anticipated to replace the iPhone Plus within the iPhone lineup. Due to its thinner design, this model is expected to have a simplified camera system, which will help reduce production costs. It is projected to be priced lower than the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models. A more traditional iPhone 17 model is also expected next year.
As a longtime iPhone user, I am more excited about the iPhone Fold than the iPhone Air. However, I recognize that, regardless of what Apple offers, it will be a first-generation product that may come with its share of issues. Still, I believe the company has learned from other manufacturers, such as Samsung and OnePlus, which have already introduced foldable products. Apple will likely consider the challenges and successes others have faced when developing its offerings.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.