Apple is quite optimistic about its financial report for the last quarter of this year and expects it to be “the best ever”. The reason is simple: This year’s new iPhones have sold extremely well (except for the iPhone Air). At the same time, we learned that Apple is launching the largest-scale expansion in the history of its iPhone product line, planning to release seven new models over the next two years. This lineup will include foldable devices, a 20th-anniversary commemorative edition, regular upgraded series, and more. Meanwhile, product lines such as iPad and Mac will also undergo simultaneous updates, marking a full-scale push in hardware layout.
The first foldable iPhone (codenamed V68 internally) is set to debut in the fall of 2026, featuring a unique horizontal folding design. When unfolded, its form factor is close to that of an iPad, with an external screen of approximately 5.3 inches when folded. The device will abandon Face ID and adopt side-mounted fingerprint unlock, with the front camera embedded in the upper left corner of the screen. Display materials are sourced from companies like Corning and Germany’s Schott, while Lens Technology and Biel Crystal Technology are involved in the development of various foldable display components. Foxconn is conducting trial production of this device at its factory in Guanlan, Shenzhen. Apple has overcome the crease issue, with the hinge made of high-strength liquid metal, but currently faces challenges in display yield rate. Priced at around $2,400, it will become the most expensive iPhone to date, a highlight among the latest electronics news.
The 20th-anniversary commemorative iPhone (codenamed V72), scheduled for release in 2027, will achieve a “true full-screen” breakthrough. It will adopt a four-curved glass design, where both the screen and back glass curve along all four edges, eliminating black borders and body openings entirely. The front camera and Face ID components will be hidden under the screen, and the middle frame will be reduced to an ultra-narrow metal strip, fulfilling Steve Jobs’ “magic glass” vision.
Iteration of Regular Series and Product Line Adjustments
The iPhone 18 series will focus on incremental upgrades. The Pro and Pro Max models (codenamed V63 and V64) will fully hide the Face ID sensor under the screen, featuring a single circular opening for the front camera in the upper left corner of the display, putting an end to the “notch” and “dynamic island” designs. The rear camera will incorporate a mechanical aperture structure, paired with a new sensor to enhance night photography and light control capabilities. Additionally, these models will adopt TSMC’s wafer-level multi-chip module packaging technology, strengthening local AI computing performance.
Due to the lackluster market performance of the first-generation model, the launch plan for the iPhone Air 2 has been adjusted. It will be released alongside the iPhone 18 and 18e in the spring of 2027, adding a second camera and lowering the retail price. Luxshare Precision will lead trial production at its factory in Kunshan. The iPhone 18e will make its debut with large-scale production first at Foxconn’s factory in Bangalore, India, before expanding to Chinese production capacity.
Furthermore, the iPhone 17e, to be released in the spring of 2026, will add popular features missing from the previous generation, such as Dynamic Island and MagSafe magnetic charging. It will be equipped with the Apple A19 chip and an 18-megapixel front camera, focusing on long battery life as its core advantage. The iPad and Mac series will also receive hardware upgrades, including the new iPad mini with an OLED screen, the new iPad Air with the M4 chip and N1 network chip, and the MacBook Pro models powered by the M5 series chips.
Facing challenges such as competition in the AI field and the impact of other mobile phones, Apple is maintaining market momentum through an intensive layout of new hardware products. However, current new products still face multiple tests, including technical yield rates and product positioning. This large-scale product expansion is not only a response to existing market demands but also regarded as a stopgap measure to fill the gap in generative AI layout. How to balance innovation with market performance and address shortcomings in AI will be a key challenge for Apple in the future.
