Apple’s next iPhone is expected to launch in the fall of 2025. It’s expected to feature major design changes, but it’s also expected to resemble the current model. The company may move to USB-C instead of the Lightning port and add an in-display fingerprint sensor. Apple also has the option of removing the physical SIM card slot.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone
According to an analyst, Apple is working on an 8-inch foldable iPhone with a QHD+ flexible OLED display. The company plans to launch 15 to 20 million foldable iPhones by 2025. That would be a pretty significant amount for Apple to ship in a year.
The company has been filing patents for foldable devices for nearly a decade. But it hasn’t announced a launch date. It’s possible that the company is merely planning to launch its first foldable iPhone in a few years. If so, it’s likely to be a flagship product.
A foldable iPhone would be Apple’s next big product. According to an analyst, it will be a hybrid of an iPhone and a tablet. According to previous reports, the foldable display would be 8-inches. It would also be capable of bending. An Apple Pencil could be included with the foldable device.
To make the foldable display possible, the company needs to improve the technology in the iPhone. In order to make the display more flexible, Apple would need to use a non-malleable and scratch-resistant plastic. The company has already begun working on a display-altering material, but has not yet announced a release date. Moreover, the foldable iPhone will need to be as pocket and hand-friendly as the current iPhones.
While the foldable iPhone is still in the oven, the tech behind it could be used to create other foldable devices in the future. In addition to the HomePod, Samsung has a foldable device called the Galaxy Z Fold 2. The latter sells for $1,800.
Dual eSIM support
Apple is rumored to be preparing to release iPhones that do not have a physical SIM card slot starting with the iPhone 15 Pro. The move could enable users to use two eSIM cards simultaneously. However, not all countries offer eSIM service. As a result, iPhones in non-eSIM countries may not have dual eSIM support.
The eSIM iPhone rumor has received a boost from a well-known tipster, Dylan. The rumor is further strengthened by a Brazilian website called Blog do iPhone. The site claims that the 2025 iPhone could be the “iPhone 15 Pro”. This means that the phone could be equipped with a SIM-embedded solution instead of a physical SIM card slot.
Despite the rumored phasing out of physical SIM card slots, it’s not clear whether Apple will take a big bang approach and transfer all users to eSIM technology. Most likely, it will stay with the dual eSIM plus physical SIM slot model for the mass market and key carrier channel. Nevertheless, the company may still release dual-SIM variants of the iPhone 14 or iPhone 15.
The 2025 iPhone Pro may only come with two eSIM slots. A reliable tipster told MacRumors that Apple had advised carriers to get ready for an eSIM-only future. Some rumors have suggested that Apple will even ditch the physical SIM card tray from the iPhone 14 model.
Although eSIM support has been rumored for years, it has not been widely marketed by the company in the United States. This is due to the fact that eSIM support is not widely available on the Chinese mainland.
Remove of physical SIM card slot
Apple’s next iPhone could be portless, according to a recent report. Apple is rumoured to remove the physical SIM card tray and replace it with a USB-C port. The move could make the portless iPhone dreams of Apple fans more real. However, it is unclear whether Apple is ready to switch to a completely portless iPhone by next year.
The company has been experimenting with eSIM technology, which replaces the physical SIM card. However, if Apple does not make a move soon, it may use physical SIM card slots in future iPhones. According to an anonymous source on MacRumors, the company has told major U.S. carriers to prepare for eSIM-only devices by September 2022. The change could even come as early as the iPhone 14 series.
Apple has made several other changes to their recent iPhones, including the removal of the headphone jack. The removal of the SIM card slot could make eSIM-only devices more secure and make it easier to move around. It would also simplify production and make the phone more watertight.
Apple may decide to remove the physical SIM card slot on the iPhone 15 Pro models. However, this change could only happen in select markets, as eSIM technology is not yet widely available. The company is said to be working with major US carriers on a transition to eSIM, but it will still take time. However, some markets may still keep their existing iPhone models that have a SIM card slot.
The removal of the physical SIM card slot on the iPhone 2025 is another rumor that could impact the company’s future products. GSM Arena claims that the company plans to get rid of the physical SIM card slot on the iPhone 15 by 2025. This move will allow the company to focus on eSIM technology instead of physical SIM cards.
Display bezels to be 20 percent smaller
Apple is rumored to be working on a new iPhone with a 20 percent smaller bezel around the display. CAD renderings shared by Twitter account “ShrimpApplePro” have revealed the upcoming device’s design, which features a centered TrueDepth camera array and a larger rear camera bump. It looks similar to the iPhone 13 Pro and 12 Pro, but the actual dimensions of the phone’s display may be larger.
A new iPhone is due to be launched in early 2025. Many rumors have been circulating about the new iPhone, and some even predict the upcoming release will be even thinner. One of the most speculative rumors is that Apple will use a titanium alloy body, as they have in some of their other devices. The titanium material is harder and more resistant to bending and corrosion than steel, making it the best choice for high-end phones.
Some experts believe the new iPhone will use a more modern design to be cheaper. If this happens, Apple could adjust the size of the panel and integrate updated hardware, and release an iPhone SE with lower prices. In addition, the new iPhone could feature a punch-hole camera.
The notch will be smaller than the iPhone X, which is considered an aesthetic change. Many Android smartphones have already adopted punch-hole style display cutouts. The iPhone 13 is likely to adopt this approach. With a notch, consumers will have more screen real estate and less bezels to worry about.
Another possibility is an in-display Face ID system. This could allow for a notchless display on future iPhones. In September, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman hinted that Apple may ditch Touch ID and switch to a notchless display.
In-house 5G modem chip
In December, an Apple analyst reported that the company was working on an in-house 5G modem chip for the iPhone 2025. He also argued that Apple’s licensing agreement with Qualcomm expires in 2025 but could be extended until 2027. While many believe that Apple will not switch to in-house modems before that date, others believe that the tech is not ready yet.
While Apple is trying to develop its own 5G modem chip, the company has also purchased the model chip division of rival Intel. The move was initially intended to allow the company to use its own chip in iPhones starting in 2025, but it isn’t yet clear when Apple will start using it. In the meantime, Qualcomm will continue to provide modem chips for two more generations of iPhones.
While Apple may not have the capability to design its own 5G modem chip, the move would allow it to better compete with other manufacturers. However, if Apple does switch to an in-house solution, it will likely be sued by Qualcomm. Qualcomm has two patents that expire in 2029 and 2030, and Apple has tried to cancel them, but the Supreme Court has rejected the company’s efforts.
The iPhone 15 is expected to launch in 2025 after the iPhone 14 series is released. Apple has also introduced 5G network support in its new iPads. The new iPad 10 is expected to come out with support for the new 5G network. If all goes well, Apple will have the technology to launch AR devices as well.
The new modem chip would have a lower process node and a higher transistor count than the current one. Apple has been trying to make its hardware more efficient and powerful, and is looking to get ahead of the competition. However, it has yet to confirm the new silicon.