By Benson Daniel
Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone as the technology giant holds its major September product event, marking the first major launch under new Chief Executive Officer John Ternus.
The event comes just days after Ternus officially succeeded Tim Cook as Apple’s CEO, bringing an end to Cook’s 15 year tenure in the role. Ternus is expected to use the high profile launch to introduce a new chapter for the company while presenting some of its most anticipated products.
The foldable iPhone is expected to be the biggest announcement of the event and would represent Apple’s entry into a smartphone category that competitors have occupied for several years.
Reports indicate that the device will use a book style folding design, opening into a larger display while retaining a conventional smartphone sized outer screen. The phone is expected to be positioned as a premium device, with estimates putting its starting price above $2,000.
Apple is believed to have spent several years developing the technology, with particular attention reportedly given to the durability of the folding mechanism and reducing the visible crease that has been a common feature of earlier foldable smartphones.
The company is also expected to unveil new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models alongside the foldable device. Other products, including updated Apple Watch and AirPods models, could also feature during the presentation.
The launch represents an important test for Ternus, who previously served as Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering and played a central role in the development of several major Apple products.
His first major event as CEO comes at a time when the smartphone industry is facing slower growth and increasing pressure to deliver new reasons for consumers to upgrade their devices.
Apple’s decision to enter the foldable market could provide a fresh source of growth while allowing the company to compete more directly with manufacturers that have already introduced multiple generations of folding smartphones.
The foldable category remains relatively small compared with the wider smartphone market, but Apple’s entry could significantly increase consumer interest and encourage more buyers to consider the technology.
The company is also facing growing expectations over artificial intelligence, particularly improvements to its Siri digital assistant and broader integration of AI across its devices.
For Ternus, the launch will therefore be about more than introducing new hardware. It will offer investors and consumers an early indication of how he intends to lead Apple after taking over from one of the technology industry’s longest serving chief executives.
If the foldable iPhone meets expectations, Apple could quickly become one of the most influential players in the growing market. But its premium pricing and the relatively untested demand for expensive foldable devices will make the product a significant commercial gamble.
The September event is consequently being watched closely as Apple begins its first major product cycle under Ternus and attempts to combine its established iPhone business with a new generation of hardware innovation.
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