Upcoming iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods
Apple is set to release new iPhones, Apple Watches, and possibly some minor gadgets such as AirPods this coming Tuesday. The rumors surrounding each and every one of them were too comprehensive to the point the actual Keynote is likely going to be a repeat of the rumor mixed with Federighi’s “crack product marketing team” jokes. In other words, had it been a decade ago, this year would be an “s” year for the iPhones — minor improvement from previous year.
I had written on the topic of foldable smartphones back in 2019. Foldable form factor only takes up about 1.6% of the entire smartphone sales in 2025 and reported to have fallen in the late 2024. As I have written previous, foldable currently lacks a punch to make the form factor unique. There are rumors of Apple making a foldable smartphone, possibly even launching one in 2027. If the rumor is true, we are potentially looking at 23% of entire smartphone (based on 2024 shipment figures) to suddenly shift to foldable overnight. I don’t suppose iPhone 17, or hopefully Apple will name it “26” just like the operating systems, would have a distinct hardware differences.
As for the Apple Watch, though I didn’t write an op-ed for it yet, I’ve actually done a trade-in for Apple Watch 8 I owned. The primary reason would be that apps I use in Korea (i.e. apps that are only used locally) do not support Apple Watch. It’s certainly a deal breaker. Apple Pay is still in the process of being adopted by other credit card companies aside from Hyundai, and popular navigation apps in the region either flat out do not have an Apple Watch app or has limited functionality on it. If anything, I was looking forward for an Apple Watch with a biometrics, but as it stands, I am not particularly enticed to wear one.
AirPods Pro 2, the current model, does have some catching up to do in terms of specs. FYI, I do not have audio testing equipments like the ones used by professional audio equipment testing journals do. But I can attest to the point that wireless ANC earbuds have gotten quite the attention from traditional manufacturers. Sony and their odd-named headphones and earbuds are great example; if anything, Sony’s are now considered one of the best to recommend. I do wish to see more, as I am now more inclined to use earbuds than headphones these days.
There is, of course, the question of price. I can’t comment on it. The tariffs are swinging wildly; Apple may or may not have developed a plan; the Californian company may even have a way of hedging the tariff risk; perhaps the price for non-US markets may stay the same, all the while it comes more dynamic in America. Anything seems possible and even plausible. I am, unfortunately, in the lookout for the new iPhone, no thanks in part to the recent security breach with my previous carrier.