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India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
iPhone 17, 17 Pro launch soon: New design, camera, battery, price, release date and everything else expected
Apple's next major iPhone launch is still a few months away, but leaks around the iPhone 17 series have already given us a fair idea of what to expect. The company is expected to unveil the new lineup in September 2025, continuing its usual launch schedule. This time, Apple may introduce a new model called the iPhone 17 Air, alongside the regular iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and Pro Max. Here is a look at the leaked design, battery, display, camera, launch timeline and other 17, 17 Pro launch soon: Design, camera, battery, price, release date, everything else expectedNew model and design tweaksOne of the key highlights could be the arrival of the iPhone 17 Air. If reports are accurate, this new variant might replace the Plus model and offer a slimmer profile, around 2mm thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro. It is also said to feature a 6.6-inch display. Meanwhile, the regular iPhone 17 could see a slight bump in screen size from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches. The Pro Max is likely to retain its 6.9-inch Pro models may also get a refreshed look, including a redesigned camera layout that stretches across the width of the back panel. Moreover, softer, rounded corners are expected to make the phones look more refined compared to last year's upgrades across models On the camera front, Apple may finally upgrade the front camera on the iPhone 17, moving from a 12-megapixel to a 24-megapixel sensor. This could improve both selfie quality and video clarity. The standard model may stick to a single 48-megapixel rear main sensor in a dual camera setup. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is said to include three 48-megapixel sensors for main, ultra-wide, and telephoto, with support for 8K video and battery improvements?The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are tipped to run on Apple's next-gen A19 Pro chip, offering better processing and graphics capabilities. The regular iPhone 17 might use the A18 chip that currently powers the iPhone 16. RAM is likely to go up as well, with 12GB for the top model and up to 8GB for the base sizes are also expected to grow to support the larger screens. This is especially expected with the standard model because of the bigger display rumoured for it. Apple could also introduce 35W fast charging this year, which would be a noticeable improvement. There are also talks of a new vapour chamber cooling system in the Pro Max to handle performance under heavy price and launch detailsThe iPhone 17 is likely to launch in India with a familiar starting price of around Rs 79,999, continuing Apple's pricing trend seen from the iPhone 12 to the iPhone 16. If the internal hardware on the base model remains largely unchanged, including the A18 chip, this price is unlikely to the other hand, the upcoming Pro models could see a price bump. A Counterpoint Research report suggests that increased production costs and expected US tariffs may influence Apple's overall pricing strategy this year. The iPhone 17 Air, positioned between the regular and Pro variants, might start at around Rs 89,999, while the Pro and Pro Max could become pricier by at least Rs 5,000, similar to the previous trend seen with the iPhone 15 Pro the base model price has remained untouched for a few years, the enhancements in materials, performance, and camera tech for the higher-end models could prompt a revision. However, since Apple now assembles more devices locally in India, the final price tags here may still be more stable than in global markets like the US and for the official launch date, Apple is expected to hold its event in early or mid-September 2025. A more affordable iPhone 17e model is also rumoured to arrive next year, but that may launch in early 2026. More concrete information is expected to emerge in the coming weeks.- Ends
CNN
4 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Samsung's bet on the future of smartphones is something Apple doesn't have an answer to yet
Samsung on Wednesday announced three new foldable phones in its latest push to popularize what the company believes is the future of smartphones. The new $2,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7, $1,100 Galaxy Z Flip 7 and $900 Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE launch on July 25, with preorders beginning July 9. Meanwhile, Samsung faces increased competition from Android rivals and is bracing for the potential arrival of Apple's first foldable iPhone. Samsung's foldables give it another card to play against the iPhone in the market for premium smartphones, a category that Apple typically dominates. Although reports of a foldable iPhone have circulated for years, Apple has yet to release one or publicly indicate intentions to do so. Samsung has spent more than half a decade selling consumers on phones that can fold in half to either double as a tablet or fit more easily into your pocket. It's a gambit to reinvigorate interest in new kinds of phones — traditional smartphones have matured, gaining few notable new features each year and leaving consumers with little incentive to upgrade. But although Samsung is largely considered to be the market leader, foldables have been a tough sell; they still account for less than 2% of the broader smartphone market, according to estimates from the International Data Corporation and Counterpoint Research. And price remains one of the biggest challenges to attracting new consumers. Total foldable phone shipments are expected to reach 45.7 million units by 2028, according to the IDC's estimates, trailing the 1.2 billion smartphones shipped in 2024. The new trio of foldables are Samsung's latest attempt to change that. 'We believe that now, with the launch of the Fold 7 and Flip 7, we will be nearing the tipping point of going mainstream,' Won-joon Choi, chief operating officer of Samsung's mobile experience business, said through a translator in an interview with CNN ahead of Samsung's product launch. The South Korean tech giant is betting that it can woo consumers with slimmer designs and bigger screens. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is lighter than the company's non-folding Galaxy S25 Ultra and has an 8-inch internal screen compared to its predecessor's 7.6-inch display. Samsung's new flip phone has a larger 4.1-inch external screen that covers the entire front of the device when closed, and a slightly bigger 6.9-inch screen on the inside. Taken together, these changes make the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 more closely resemble regular phones when used in 'bar mode' — i.e. when the Galaxy Z Fold is closed and the Galaxy Z Flip is opened. 'Obviously, this did not come about in just one year,' said Choi. 'It's something that we have been working for quite a long time, and it involves new parts, and also new materials.' Both phones also include new processors, although Samsung is straying from its usual strategy of using the same chip in both foldables. Citing supply chain reasons, Samsung is using a Qualcomm chip for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and a Samsung's Exynos chip for the Z Flip 7. Samsung is also releasing a cheaper version of its flip phone for the first time called the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, which has a similar design as Samsung's older flip phones and an older processor. But the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is $100 more expensive than last year's model, which the company attributes to hardware changes like the thinner design and higher resolution camera, not tariffs. While foldable phones were expected to eventually get cheaper, that is no longer the case, according to Francisco Jeronimo, an analyst covering mobile devices across the EMEA market for the IDC. He said phone makers like Samsung are leaning on foldables to compete with the iPhone in the premium segment of the smartphone market. 'They are not really pushing prices down, which was sort of expected to happen, but they realized that despite shipping small volumes, they are (making) quite decent money out of it,' he said. A device like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, for example, could appeal to consumers who may have otherwise opted for an iPhone 16 Pro Max, the largest phone Apple sells. Foldables are the only Android product without an Apple alternative — and there's data to suggest that at least some iPhone owners are switching. In the quarter that ended in March, 8% of US consumers who bought a foldable phone had switched from an iPhone, according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners data provided to CNN. Choi also said the switch rate, or people switching to a Samsung phone from another Android phone or iPhone, is higher for its foldable phones than regular phones. Apple is expected to release its first foldable phone in 2026, according to Bloomberg and TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, although Apple has not mentioned any plans to release such a device. Apple did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment about the foldable phone reports. When asked about speculation of Apple entering the foldables category, Choi responded: 'We would welcome that.' Samsung launched its first foldable phone in 2019 and has largely maintained the leading position in the market since. But the company has faced stiffer competition from Chinese brands such as Huawei, Vivo and Honor, which dominate sales in China — the biggest market for foldable phones, according to Counterpoint Research. Just days before Samsung announced its new trio of devices, Honor introduced a slim new foldable phone called the Magic V5. Huawei also beat Samsung to the punch in 2024 when it released a new type of foldable phone that bends in two places like an accordion, providing an even larger screen nearly the size of an iPad when fully unfolded. Samsung has showed similar concept devices at trade shows but has yet to turn those prototypes into real products. Choi says Samsung has a new style of device 'that can be brought to market in the near future,' although he declined to reveal details or specific timing. For now, Samsung is leaning on hardware upgrades and AI to differentiate its phones from the growing competition. It has worked with Google to optimize the way its Gemini assistant works on the phone's unconventional screens. Gemini Live, the feature that lets users speak to Google's AI assistant conversationally, is now available on the Z Flip 7's cover display, unlike Samsung's previous flip phones. Gemini can also work across multiple windows on the Z Fold 7's tablet-sized screen. Samsung plans to collaborate with other AI companies in addition to Google, Choi said, although he didn't name specific potential partners. Bloomberg reported last month that Samsung is close to a deal with AI search engine Perplexity. Choi sees a larger change coming to smartphones in the future that involves relying on AI agents to accomplish tasks, like watching a movie, sharing a recipe or booking a vacation, instead of bouncing between apps. The company is working with industry partners to move its smartphone software in that direction. 'I don't know how long it'll take, but I don't think it's like 10 years,' said Choi. 'I don't think it's like six months or a year, but I think somewhere in between. But it's (going to) happen.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Apple's iPhone Sales in China Rebound 8% in Q2 2025 Driven by Price Cuts, iPhone 16 Demand
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the best US stocks to buy and hold in 2025. On July 3, it was reported that after grappling with stagnant iPhone sales in China for the past 2 years, Apple finally saw a positive turnaround in Q2 2025, with Counterpoint Research reporting an 8% year-over-year increase. This marks the first quarterly growth for Apple in the region since Q2 2023. This rebound was due to Apple's strategically timed price cuts in May this year, just ahead of China's 618 shopping festival, and the demand for the new iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models, which were originally released on September 20 last year. While overall sales volumes for the 618 festival period (April 1 to June 22) remained relatively flat compared to the previous year, most of Apple's growth occurred specifically in May. During this time, 3 iPhone 16 variants secured spots in the top half of China's bestseller charts. A wide view of an Apple store, showing the range of products the company offers. Despite Apple's resurgence, the Chinese smartphone market remains highly competitive. Counterpoint Research projects that Huawei is expected to overtake all rivals to claim the number one spot in China for Q2 2025, fueled by strong user loyalty and customers upgrading to its latest handsets. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) designs, manufactures, and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables, and accessories worldwide. While we acknowledge the potential of AAPL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
iPhone Sales Are Growing in China Again. Should You Buy, Sell, or Hold Apple Stock Here?
After a long dry spell, Apple (AAPL) has finally turned a corner in China. For the first time since the second quarter of 2023, iPhone sales in the nation grew 8% year-over-year (YOY) in Q2 2025. The turnaround, as per Counterpoint Research, breaks a two-year streak of declining sales in one of Apple's most strategically vital markets. Several levers drove this sudden change in tide. Apple slashed prices aggressively in May, a move timed deliberately ahead of China's 618 shopping festival. The strategy, coupled with support from a national subsidy program aimed at encouraging smartphone upgrades, triggered a noticeable spike in demand. This Analyst Just Raised His Broadcom Stock Price Target by 70%. Should You Buy AVGO Now? Why Alibaba Stock Looks Like a Screaming Buy After Falling 27% From Its 2025 Highs 2 ETFs Offering Juicy Dividend Yields of 20% or Higher Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. Counterpoint Associate Director Ethan Qi confirmed that three iPhone variants landed in the top half of China's bestseller charts during 618. Though the 618 shopping period itself remained flat compared to last year, the lead-up month of May delivered the real gains. With strong demand for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models, Apple is now expected to post high single-digit growth in China for the remainder of the quarter. China remains a critical source of revenue, and if Apple maintains its current momentum, this rebound could extend deeper into the fiscal year. Apple may be synonymous with the iPhone, but the company's value story runs far deeper than any single product line. Headquartered in California, the tech giant holds a commanding market capitalization of $3.2 trillion, with a business model that has steadily evolved into a powerful ecosystem play. While the iPhone remains the core revenue driver, Apple's Services segment has become an engine of dependable cash flow. At the same time, Apple has carved out leadership in the wearables and hearables markets through sustained demand for the Apple Watch and AirPods. These products not only contribute to revenue but deepen user engagement across the broader ecosystem. Investor sentiment reflects this growing confidence. Over the past three months, AAPL stock has gained 16%. Meanwhile, in the past five sessions alone, the stock has jumped 4%, easily outpacing the broader S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 1% rise. AAPL stock trades at 30 times forward earnings and 8 times sales, both well above industry averages, signaling premium expectations. For income-seeking investors, Apple also offers stability through dividends. It pays an annualized forward dividend of $1.01 per share, yielding 0.47%, with its most recent $0.26 per share payout made on May 15 to shareholders of record as of May 12. The company has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years. On May 1, Apple delivered its second-quarter earnings for fiscal 2025, surpassing Street forecasts. Total revenue reached $95.4 billion, up 5.1% YOY and coming in ahead of consensus estimates of $94.3 billion. The company's Products revenue came in at $68.7 billion, growing 2.7% YOY. The uptick was led by better-than-expected iPhone, iPad, and Mac sales. Importantly, Apple noted that its active installed base of devices hit record levels across all categories and geographies, a direct result of customer satisfaction and long-term brand loyalty. Services revenue climbed 11.6% YOY to $26.6 billion, even after accounting for foreign exchange headwinds. This line item continues to be Apple's most durable growth lever. Meanwhile, gross margin improved to 47.1%, landing in the midpoint of guidance. Net income grew 4% to $24.8 billion, and EPS rose 7.8% to $1.65, ahead of the Street's $1.61 estimate. Operating cash flow remained strong at $24 billion, underlining the company's financial health and cash-generation capacity. Looking ahead, Apple guided for total company revenue in the June quarter to grow in the low- to mid-single-digit range YOY. Gross margin is expected between 45.5% and 46.5%, even after including an estimated $900 million hit from tariff-related costs. Operating expenses are projected between $15.3 billion and $15.5 billion. As for earnings, analysts anticipate fiscal 2025 third-quarter EPS to rise 1.4% YOY to $1.42. For full fiscal 2025, EPS is projected to increase 5.3% to $7.11 and climb another 8.3% to $7.70 in fiscal 2026. Analyst sentiment on AAPL stock remains broadly optimistic, anchored by the company's stability and long-term growth potential. The stock holds an overall rating of 'Moderate Buy,' reflecting a consensus view across Wall Street that balances upside potential with near-term caution. Of the 37 analysts covering AAPL, 18 offer a 'Strong Buy,' three rate it as a 'Moderate Buy,' 14 maintain a 'Hold,' and two assign a 'Strong Sell" rating. While not universally bullish, the majority of analysts lean in favor of continued upside. The average price target of $230.92 represents potential upside of 10%. Meanwhile, the Street-High target of $300 suggests a potential climb of 43% from current levels. On the date of publication, Aanchal Sugandh did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
The Verge
05-07-2025
- The Verge
Samsung is about to find out if Ultra is enough
I don't often get asked about the phones I'm testing when I'm out and about, unless it's a folding phone. Then I usually hear some version of the same thing: 'Oh, I thought about getting one of those! But then I just got a [insert slab-style phone name here].' My anecdotal data matches the actual sales figures; there are many more people curious about folding phones than there are buyers of folding phones. Samsung would very much like that to not be the case, and, by all indications, it's about to pull out all the stops at at its Unpacked event on July 9th. But is putting the Ultra name on a folding phone enough? The weak sales are not for lack of trying — Samsung has been trying to sell us on foldables for a good chunk of the last decade, and Google also got in the game a couple of years ago. Motorola has had substantial success selling clamshell-style flip phones; Counterpoint Research found that the brand's foldable market share grew 253 percent year-over-year in 2024. But that's a bigger piece of a very small pie. TrendForce estimated that foldables made up just 1.5 percent of the overall smartphone market in 2024. In the US, Samsung was the earliest and loudest folding phone maker, but a half dozen iterations of folding phones hasn't managed to make a significant dent. It didn't help that Samsung's foldable lineup last year was a barely warmed-over version of the one from a year before. The Z Flip 6 was a spec bump with some software improvements; the Fold 6 trimmed a few millimeters here, added a few there, and laid flatter when you opened it — not exactly gripping stuff. Lucky for us, Samsung seems to have more excitement planned this time around. The company has all but confirmed that we'll get an Ultra-branded Fold for the first time, with a thinner profile to rival the recent efforts from Honor and Oppo. The Z Flip 7 is likely to get a bigger, Razr-style screen that covers most of the front panel, and we might see a cheaper FE version with the old cover screen design. That all seems to address a couple of common complaints about foldables: they're too pricey and come with too many tradeoffs compared to a slab-style phone. I'm not quite sure it'll be enough, though. Foldables remain more susceptible to damage from dust than a standard flagship phone — and repairs can be pricier. Despite saying years ago that it's pursuing full dustproofing, Samsung doesn't seem to have cracked the code on a fully IP68-rated foldable just yet. Taking a chance on an expensive phone that's less durable than your typical $1,000 flagship? That's kind of a big ask, especially with prices on everything else we buy going up, too. It's not all doom and gloom for foldables, however. Analysts are putting a lot of stock in rumors of a folding phone from Apple coming in 2026. An iFold or whatever it might be called could help expand the market, at least in the US, and maybe that rising tide would float Samsung's boat, too. Maybe a couple of new models hitting different price segments is enough to get Samsung's marketshare growing again — a strategy that has worked well for the company in the past. Maybe an Ultra foldable with ultra specs will convince some people who were on the fence about folding phones. And if anyone was holding out for an extra hinge, well, Samsung might just have that covered, too. Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge
