Apple is poised to unveil its new iPhone lineup on Tuesday, with the highlight being a thinner “Air” model that analysts believe could pave the way for a foldable iPhone next year. This new device is expected to occupy a middle ground in Apple’s pricing strategy, falling between the standard iPhone 17 and the higher-end iPhone 17 Pro models. The event, held at Apple’s Cupertino headquarters, will also feature iterative updates to Apple Watches and other existing products.
The launch comes at a time of significant global trade uncertainty. Apple has projected tariff costs exceeding $1 billion for the current fiscal quarter, a direct consequence of the ongoing trade reordering. Analysts are closely monitoring whether Apple will absorb these costs through price increases across its iPhone range or implement alternative strategies, such as maintaining base model prices while increasing the cost of higher-storage versions.
The new iPhones will notably lack significant upgrades to Apple’s virtual assistant, Siri. Apple has pushed these improvements to next year, focusing instead on strategic AI partnerships. The company’s collaboration with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has already influenced certain AI features in its operating systems, leading to speculation about further AI integrations before the revamped Siri launch. The tech giant is likely to be keenly observing the reception to Google’s recent unveiling of its own new phones, including a folding model, which showcased Google’s Gemini AI capabilities.
The smartphone market is heating up, particularly in the foldable phone segment. The iPhone Air is seen as a direct competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge and a potential stepping stone for Apple’s entry into the increasingly popular foldable phone market, currently dominated by Samsung’s seventh-generation models. The event promises significant revelations for Apple and the broader tech industry.
