Rumors about new iPhones: future design and a $2,000 foldable smartphone
According to new leaks, Apple is planning a major design change for next year's models. At the same time, the foldable iPhone may arrive with quite a few compromises and at a price of over $2,000. On the other hand, the price increase for the iPhone 18 Pro may not be as significant as analysts predicted.
In about two weeks we will get to see Apple's new iPhones; until then, we must settle for reports and rumors, and there are quite a few of them. One specifically concerns next year's iPhone Pro models, which are expected to receive a new full-glass design as part of the 20th anniversary of the first iPhone, according to reports and a new leak from Fixed Focus Digital on the Chinese forum Weibo. Apple is reportedly working on larger screens with a curved display on four sides, extending to the edges of the device to create an almost bezel-less look.
According to Fixed Focus Digital, Apple is using a glass assembly process similar to that used in the iPhone Air, but with adjustments for more rounded materials. The post also claims improvements have been made in two areas: heat dissipation and device thinness. While it is unclear what exact materials Apple is aiming for, the new model will draw inspiration from the Air and the foldable Ultra, without sacrificing performance or battery life.
At the same time, another report claims that Apple's first foldable, expected to be branded as the iPhone Ultra, may be unveiled at an event in early September with a price tag exceeding $2,000. Despite the branding and price, reports point to notable limitations: it will likely receive only two cameras (a 48MP main and a 48MP Ultra Wide), without a telephoto lens. According to leaked dummy units, the iPhone Ultra is not expected to include the familiar power button, and may be the first iPhone without a mute switch. The volume buttons are expected to move to the top edge, similar to the iPad mini. Reports also claim that the Ultra will not include Face ID, but only Touch ID in the side button, likely due to the difficulty of integrating two Face ID systems for both the outer and inner screens.
The MagSafe component is also in doubt, as leaked dummy units do not show a MagSafe ring on the back, and support for Apple's wireless charging seems unlikely, though it may offer standard wireless charging. Regarding the SIM, sources including Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg claim the Ultra model will be based on eSIM only worldwide, again due to the very thin design.
One of the things that interests Apple fans most is the price. In a separate report, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg writes that the iPhone 18 Pro may increase in price by less than some analysts estimated. Apple is monitoring how Samsung and Google handled rising component costs, after both raised prices by about $100. A similar increase would bring the iPhone 18 Pro to $1,199 (a 9% increase), instead of the $1,299 or $1,399 predicted by analysts. Accordingly, the iPhone 18 Pro Max would go from $1,199 to $1,299. Note that the price in Israel is also affected by the shekel-to-dollar exchange rate, so it is difficult to know how this will affect the local market.
