Every fall there’s a new iPhone: after that, people have been able to get an Apple Watch for several years. But does this rapid product succession make sense if only evolutionary innovations are to be expected – this time with the iPhone 16, for example new SoCs and camera controls for all models, as well as more screen space for Pro devices? In some cases, Apple also sees it this way, at least for model lines outside of smartphones. But these inner thoughts leaked in the last few days Has sparked debate about braking on the iPhone.
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Annual upgrades already aren’t always on track
Cycles on Mac are already not as regular as on iPhone. The MacBook Air and Pro follow a strict annual cycle, with dates sometimes moving from summer to spring (MacBook Air) or autumn to spring (MacBook Pro – the latter also due to corona). Like the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, Apple has now taken more time with the Mac mini and iMac. There’s no real strategy clear with AirPods; The mini and standard versions of the iPads in particular are lagging behind.
The current rule is that software is presented in the summer (at the WWDC developer conference) and hardware is presented in the autumn. However, as mentioned, this does not apply to all products. According to the latest report from financial news agency Bloomberg, Apple is now planning to become more “fluid” overall with its publications – as can be seen from Apple Intelligence. There it was openly admitted that the functions would be rolled out over a period of a few months – rather disappointing for users, especially when new devices like the iPhone 16 are advertised.
Slow conversion of form factors
However, at the moment it is unlikely that the iPhone will even have a cycle lasting several years. It sells very well for that and is Apple’s typical big revenue generator, despite comparatively small steps forward. Completely new form factors are now expected only every few years – for example with the “iPhone 17 Slim/Air”, which could arrive in 2025. Foldables have been expected for years, but so far the technology doesn’t seem to meet Apple’s quality standards.
When it comes to software, Apple is also currently sticking strictly to an annual cycle. Not everyone likes this – especially with macOS, which unfortunately makes unwanted changes on a regular basis.
(B.Sc.)
