From Ultra-Thin to Foldable: Apple’s Bold Roadmap Through 2027

Long is comfortable with incremental upgrades, suddenly flipping the script. According to legendary supply-chain whisperer Ming-Chi Kuo, that’s exactly what’s coming. In this roadmap, Apple isn’t just refining its reinvention. Over the next three years, we’re slated for an ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, a foldable iPhone, a lighter Vision Air spatial headset, and even a foldable iPad. Bold? Absolutely. Necessary? Most definitely.

iPhone 17 Air: Slim Is the New Black

First up is the iPhone 17 Air, set to drop in late 2025. Think MacBook Air, but in your pocket. Rumors point to a wafer-thin 5.5 mm frame, a 6.6-inch display, and perhaps just one rear camera, stripped down, yes, but featherweight and fashion-forward. It might drop the SIM slot (hello, eSIM-only world) and go for a lighter, possibly titanium-alloy build, a classy nod to design minimalism. If that sounds like Apple trying something new, it’s because it is. Think of it as a design flex and yes, a risk. As one analyst quipped, “Nice idea, but will customers actually choose form over battery?”.

The Foldable Frontier: iPhone First, iPad Follows

Next year, Apple will (maybe) throw the hat into the foldable ring with the iPhone 18 series. Kuo believes they’re positioning for big volume, me 8 to 10 million foldable iPhones in 2026 and a leap to 20–25 million in 2027. That’s serious ambition. Meanwhile, a foldable iPad is scheduled to land in late 2027 or early 2028, but expectations are modest, somewhere around half a million to a million units. And it’s not just dreams: backend specialist General Interface Solution (GIS) is working with Corning on ultra-thin glass covers (UTG) for these foldables, which is a big technical challenge in itself.

Vision Air: Spatial Computing, Now Lighter and Cheaper

Let’s talk VR/XR: The Vision Pro wowed us but also gave our wallets and necks a workout at $3,499 and a solid heft. Enter the Vision Air, set fo,r 2027, just under a pound (over 40% lighter) and more than 50,  potentially about $1,750. I can hear every reader in the back going, “Now that’s more like it.” Apple apparently trusts GIS to be the exclusive supplier of pancake lenses for this version, reinforcing how vital that supply chain will be.

What’s cooking here? For us, these moves hint at Apple shaking off upgrade fatigue. Slim devices for style-conscious users, mainstream-friendly spatial computing, and foldables to spark “have you seen this?” moments. For Apple, the aim i,s growth, refreshing a stagnant cycle with headline-grabbing designs and price drops.

“It’s not just n, ew models, it’s a message: Apple’s back in hardware form,” one insider mused. And frankly, after a year of tick-tock refreshes, that’s a welcome shot in the arm.

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