Apple's Fresh Twist: Could This Be the Reason You Finally Upgrade to a New iPhone?

Apple’s highest-earning item might finally receive a long-overdue update.

The major technology company is anticipated to place one of its largest gambles shortly by launching an extensively thinner version of the iPhone, aiming to reignite enthusiasm for its primary moneymaker.

The more streamlined new iPhone, often called the iPhone "Slim" or "Air" in various news stories, might be released later this year as part of the iPhone 17 series, according to reports. Bloomberg , the Wall Street Journal and The Information This could mark the most significant redesign of the iPhone in recent years, potentially rivaling the launch of the home-button-less iPhone X back in 2017.

However, will that suffice?

Apple's iPhone segment remains steady with revenues from phone sales staying nearly identical compared to last year during its initial financial quarter, contributing to an aggregate income growth of 4% for the company. However, several issues loom over the brand: customers retaining their iPhones for extended periods, underwhelming performance against analysts' forecasts regarding recent quarterly earnings, and declining shares within China's competitive mobile device sector dominated by local players. The tech giant must now strategize ways to expand what currently stands as their key profit driver.

Apple did not promptly reply to GudangMovies21’s request for comment.

This tale isn’t novel. Apple has consistently encountered pressure to continually evolve and expand its iPhone lineup, even with hurdles such as a slow-moving smartphone industry and fierce rivalry from Chinese companies.

This time around, though, Apple’s significant investment in artificial intelligence—which they’ve promoted as a key feature of the iPhone 16—is not yielding returns as quickly as anticipated. For now, Apple might need to depend on their hardware offerings to impress customers.

"I believe there's greater pressure on Apple now compared to any time before, particularly due to Samsung gaining market share with their bigger screens," stated Patrick Moorhead, CEO and lead analyst at the technology consulting company Moor Insights & Strategy.

According to Bloomberg, the upcoming thinner iPhone 17 scheduled for release later this year will be approximately two millimeters narrower compared to the present model. This new device might take over from what was previously known as the iPhone Plus, which is essentially a bigger variant of the standard edition at Apple. While primarily distinguished by its sleeker design, most features will remain similar to those found in contemporary iPhones—this includes elements like the distinctive dedicated camera button along with the Dynamic Island notch positioned towards the upper part of the display, based on information provided in Bloomberg’s article.

This kind of move might be especially attractive in China, where consumers highly value product design, according to Nabila Popal, who works as a senior director at the data and analytics division of market research company IDC.

The significance of appealing to Chinese consumers is highlighted as Apple experienced a decline in revenue from China during its first fiscal quarter this year, dropping to $18.5 billion from $21 billion in the previous year. Market research firms report thatiPhone sales in China decreased by 25% in the fourth quarter compared to the same period last year, largely due to heightened competition from local brands. Canalys. The Chinese technology behemoth Xiaomi has outpaced Apple to claim the position of world leader. second largest smartphone brand In August, Counterpoint Research, a different company tracking the smartphone industry, released their report in September.

"Chinese consumers place significant importance on hardware advancements," stated Popal, an expert focused on studying smartphones and consumer technology gadgets. "Considering the success of slim designs among Android phones, introducing a similarly sleek device for Apple might boost their market share" within China.

Competitors have outpaced Apple. In January, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 Edge, an enhanced model of their top-tier smartphone. Meanwhile, Oppo, a leading figure in China’s mobile market, showcased the ultra-slim variant of its foldable device named the Find N5 back in February.

However, according to certain experts, merely presenting an attractive updated look won’t be enough to attract buyers. Apple must persuade customers that they desire a new iPhone regardless of whether their current device requires replacement or not.

Smartphones have become mature devices; they now undergo smaller changes annually compared to the significant transformations seen in the early 2010s when purchasing a new model could mean experiencing fingerprint unlock technology for the first time or managing a substantially bigger display. According to a report issued by UBS analysts on March 25, the typical iPhone owner outside of China retains their device for an extended period—about 37 months—which marks an increase from approximately 34 months as per last year’s data.

Apple Intelligence, the term used for Apple’s AI-driven applications, might hold the solution to this issue. However, the present offerings fall short of being significantly improved upon. (Consider features like consolidating alerts, producing personalized avatars, and seeking help from Siri with technical problems.)

Apple has also recently announced what might be its most significant upcoming feature for Apple Intelligence: an updated version of Siri. has been delayed Instead of merely triggering reminders and responding to queries, the updated Siri ought to execute tasks within applications on behalf of the user and utilize information saved on an individual's iPhone for generating replies. According to Apple, these enhancements have the potential to reshape how we employ our smartphones and engage with various app functionalities.

However, customers will need to wait more time before they can sample it. Apple say As it’s anticipated to launch in the upcoming year.

Apple is expected to offer a preview of upcoming developments for Apple Intelligence during its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. The event, as announced earlier this week, is scheduled for June 9.

Apple’s impending releases – and their ability to live up to these expectations – might demonstrate whether artificial intelligence will prove beneficial enough to convince iPhone owners to invest in a new version.

Apple requires a significant move – perhaps one that involves reducing thickness further. The financial sector will be keenly observing to determine if advanced software or an even slimmer design will prove successful.

If you own an iPhone 14, or perhaps even a newer iPhone 15, there isn’t really a compelling financial incentive to upgrade at this moment," stated David Vogt, a UBS analyst. "I believe this is the kind of pressure that Apple is experiencing.

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