Apple is developing a smaller version of the iPhone that is expected to be released by 2025, according to a report by The Information. The report states that the likely price of this smaller model may be higher than the Pro Max version, which starts at $1,200. The new iPhone is anticipated to launch alongside the iPhone 17 series in 2025.
The Cupertino-based company is still testing various designs for the device, codenamed D23, which includes an aluminum body. The model is described as a significant advancement in the design language from the iPhone X, which last saw a major aesthetic update with the introduction of OLED screens and Face ID in 2017.
The D23 is expected to feature the latest generation of Apple’s processor, likely named A19. The report also mentions that Apple plans to discontinue the lower-priced Plus version, which has not met sales expectations. The company intends to introduce a cheaper iPhone as a successor to the iPhone SE in the spring of 2025.
The phone may feature an upgraded front camera alongside Face ID sensors in a pill-shaped cutout, and the rear camera could be repositioned to the center of the phone, potentially reducing the likelihood of accidentally covering the lenses with fingers. The screen size is expected to fall somewhere between that of the current iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, specifically between 6.12 inches and 6.69 inches.
This news comes just days after Apple unveiled its latest iPad Pro models with a new chip for artificial intelligence computing, as it races to catch up with its major tech competitors in the emerging technology sector. The anticipated update highlights Apple’s need to enhance the iPhone, its most popular product, amidst fierce competition from Honor and Huawei in China and Samsung globally.
Samsung captured a significant share of the smartphone market in the first quarter of 2024 at 20.8%, followed by Apple with a market share of 17.3%, according to research firm IDC. In the second financial quarter, Apple’s iPhone sales dropped by 10.5% to $45.96 billion. It is reported that this year’s iPhone models focus more on artificial intelligence advancements than on any major design changes, although there may be a new side button with touch sensitivity to improve camera controls.
