The iPhone 20: foldable miracle weapon or phantom phone?

The iPhone 20: foldable miracle weapon or phantom phone?

In 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone, which revolutionized the tech world. To date, 2.3 billion iPhones have been sold, and one in eight people owns one. For the 20th anniversary of the iPhone's launch in 2027, Apple plans to introduce a foldable iPhone and a model without physical buttons, called the "Phantom Phone." These events and visions of the future raise questions about the future attractiveness of smartphones, especially in light of increasing competition in the market.

Apple has announced that it will enter the foldable market. The new iPhone will feature an edge-to-edge design and control via haptic feedback zones, which promises a completely new operating experience. Loud oe24.at Marketing campaigns are planned for the anniversary, similar to those of the iPhone X in 2017, which is considered a significant design change.

Innovations and market developments

Apple is already working on the iPhone 20, which is expected to hit the market in 2027. In addition to the foldable model, a new Pro model with a higher proportion of glass is also expected. Tom's Guide reports that these design changes are a response to the stagnant smartphone market, which has seen only marginal design changes since 2019. Improvements mainly affected the cameras and chips.

While Apple continues to work on new products and updates, there are challenges in Cupertino. An AI update for Siri has been pushed back from 2024 to 2026, and Apple must allow alternative app stores due to EU pressure. This could affect the future monetization strategy of the company, which generates nearly 50% of its revenue, nearly $400 billion annually, from the iPhone business.

The future of the iPhone

The App Store remains an important source of revenue for Apple, generating over $100 billion in revenue annually, despite ongoing criticism of the 30% fees. To survive in the competitive environment, Apple could place a greater focus on innovative features that improve the user experience and increase interest in new iPhone models.

Additionally, new standards are expected to be set with the release of the iPhone 17 series in 2025, which includes ProMotion displays, improved telephoto cameras and a new slim iPhone 17 Air model. iOS 19 will be unveiled at WWDC 2025 and is expected to offer new design and feature changes, including a revamped camera app and AI capabilities.

Market developments show that foldable smartphones are increasingly being recognized as a serious option and Apple could be well positioned with its planned Phantom phone. Competition from cheaper premium smartphones, such as the iPhone 16e, considered a more affordable variant of the iPhone 16, and other models such as the Google Pixel 9a, could pose a challenge. Mobilezone.ch highlights the importance of innovation to stay relevant in the highly competitive market.

Looking ahead to the future of the iPhone, it's clear that Apple faces exciting but challenging times. The upcoming models and technologies could be crucial to maintaining the company's leadership position in the mobile market and maintaining consumer interest as competition grows rapidly.