Each year, Apple enhances the iPhone’s features. However, new models have recently felt somewhat uninspired compared to the groundbreaking innovations of its early days. Thankfully, the rumors suggest that this “uninspired phase” will come to an end this fall and remain a thing of the past.
Upcoming iPhone releases promise innovative models
When was the most recent time Apple unveiled a truly eye-catching iPhone model?
Every year, there are exciting new features added to the iPhone lineup. But has there been a model that really broke the mold in terms of design or innovation?
It feels like quite some time has passed.
At first glance, distinguishing the flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max from similar models launched in recent years can be quite challenging.
Fortunately, significant upgrades are right around the corner.
Starting this fall and continuing through 2026 and 2027, Apple is set to launch three groundbreaking new iPhone models:
- iPhone 17 Air
- iPhone Fold
- and a special Pro model for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary
Goodbye to mundane flagship iPhones
The iPhone 17 Air is set to feature a sleek, ultra-thin design that is significantly more slender than its predecessors, along with a distinctive screen size.
The upcoming iPhone Fold will combine the functionalities of both an iPhone and an iPad, offering a versatile experience packed into a portable device.
Then in 2027, Mark Gurman indicates that Apple is planning a “bold new Pro model” in honor of the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. Specifics are limited, but it is rumored to involve “more extensive use of glass.”
These three major launches signal a clear end to the iPhone’s bland era.
Apple will, of course, continue to release other models with fewer updates.
However, it has been a considerable time since flagship new models genuinely excited consumers beyond mere changes in color and materials.
Beginning with the release of the iPhone 17 Air in just a few months, we can expect eye-catching designs to become a yearly norm—at least for the foreseeable future.
No wonder Apple’s hardware chief, John Ternus, stated that the forthcoming iPhone models would be their “most ambitious to date.”
Are you looking forward to Apple’s next generation of iPhone models? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
