Upcoming Foldable IPhone Insights Along With IOS 19 And Siri Enhancements

Welcome to “Rumor Replay,” a weekly look at the latest rumors surrounding Apple products. This week, we’re focusing on exciting news about Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone, plus some updates on iOS 19 and Siri. Let’s dive into what we know!

Table of Contents

Insights from Ming-Chi Kuo About Apple’s Foldable iPhone

Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known analyst with connections in the supply chain, recently shared his predictions for Apple’s first foldable iPhone, which is expected to launch in 2026. Here are some key points he mentioned:

The design will likely be book-style, instead of the previously suggested top-down fold.
It will have a 5.5-inch outer display and a larger 7.8-inch inner display.
Touch ID will be integrated into the side button, and it may not feature Face ID.
The estimated retail price could range between $2,000 and $2,500.
The phone is designed to avoid any visible creases or wrinkles along the fold.
When folded, it will be about 9-9.5mm thick and only 4.5-4.8mm thick when unfolded.
It will use a hinge made from stainless steel and titanium, with a titanium casing.

Kuo estimates that Apple will produce only 3-5 million units of this foldable iPhone due to production challenges, not necessarily a lack of interest from consumers.

Key Thoughts on the Foldable iPhone

It’s essential to note that Kuo is offering predictions based on the best information he currently has, not confirmed details about the foldable iPhone. For instance, while the screen sizes and thickness seem reliable, the pricing is more speculative.

Despite this, it’s exciting to think about the possibilities! Previous rumors suggested a top-down design that I wasn’t convinced was practical. A book-style design definitely feels more appealing. As a fan of the iPad mini, I find the idea of having a mini tablet that fits in a pocket very exciting.

Although many details could change by the projected fall 2026 release, these rumors certainly ignite my curiosity.

Updates on iOS 19 and Siri Enhancements

Recently, analyst Mark Gurman provided updates about iOS 19’s development and some possible delays with Siri’s improvements. He mentioned that the new “LLM” version of Siri is still expected to launch with iOS 19 but may be delayed until the end of the release cycle in spring 2026. Meanwhile, some more advanced Siri features will not make it to iOS 19 as originally planned. Instead, they are pushed to iOS 20 next year.

Thoughts on iOS 19 and Siri

Apple’s competition in the intelligent assistant space has ramped up with models from companies like OpenAI, pushing Apple to innovate quickly. However, I believe the reported delays with Siri have been exaggerated. Apple seems to prefer a gradual upgrade strategy rather than making drastic changes all at once. This approach allows them to improve Siri continuously through various iOS updates, like the upcoming iOS 18.5, as well as future versions.

Given Siri’s substantial user base, it isn’t surprising that Apple is selective and thoughtful in its updates. While it’s a challenge to keep pace with the competition, Apple’s strengths in ecosystem and hardware should not be underestimated.