Apple (AAPL.O) is expected to reveal a fresh lineup of iPhones on Tuesday, including a much thinner “Air” model that analysts believe could pave the way for a foldable iPhone next year.
The new slim phone, likely to sit between the cheaper iPhone 17 models and the high-end iPhone 17 Pro versions, is expected to be the star of the event. Alongside it, Apple is also preparing incremental updates for the Apple Watch and other key product lines.
Analysts told Reuters the iPhone Air will go head-to-head with Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge and may mark Apple’s first step toward competing with Samsung’s fordable phones, now in their seventh generation.
The launch, held at Apple’s Cupertino, California headquarters, comes amid global trade tensions that began under former U.S. President Donald Trump. Apple estimates tariffs could cost the company more than $1 billion this fiscal quarter. Analysts will be watching closely to see if Apple raises iPhone prices, or instead offsets costs by strategies like keeping entry-level prices steady while charging more for higher storage models.
The new iPhones will not include major upgrades to Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, which has been pushed back until next year. In the meantime, industry watchers are keeping an eye on Apple’s AI plans. The company has already partnered with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, to power some features in its operating systems. The big question now is whether Apple will add more AI partnerships before a revamped Siri makes its debut.
Google (GOOGL.O), meanwhile, unveiled new phones last month, including a foldable model that also served as a showcase for its Gemini AI system.
