Who’s Asking for This? Apple’s Foldable iPhone and the Relentless March Toward More iPhones

The iPhone 16e just dropped, and Apple’s already teasing us with four more models launching this fall, including the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air.

But wait—hold onto your wallets—because 2026 might be the year Apple really blows the doors off with two brand-new iPhone designs. Yes, two. Because apparently, one groundbreaking redesign per year just isn’t enough anymore.

According to Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, Apple’s 2026 lineup could include a foldable iPhone and another mysterious design that’s still under wraps.

A foldable iPhone? Sure, we’ve seen that coming for a while. But a second, entirely new design? Who’s asking for this?

The Foldable iPhone: Cool, But Are We Ready?

First, the foldable.

It’s 2026, and Apple is finally jumping on the foldable bandwagon. Samsung’s been folding phones like origami for years, and Google’s Pixel Fold is already out there doing its thing.

So, Apple’s foldable iPhone feels less like innovation and more like catching up. Sure, it’ll probably be sleek, overpriced, and marketed as “magical,” but let’s be real: foldables are still niche. They’re for early adopters, tech enthusiasts, and people who really, really want to watch TikTok on a screen that folds in half.

Is the average iPhone user clamoring for a foldable? Probably not. But Apple’s never been about giving people what they ask for—it’s about telling them what they need.

And if that means convincing us all that folding our phones is the future, so be it.

Then there’s the second design Gurman mentions. No details, no hints, just a vague promise of something “new.”

Is it a rollable iPhone? A holographic iPhone? A phone that doubles as a toaster? Who knows! But Apple’s track record suggests it’ll be something flashy, expensive, and slightly impractical.

Here’s the thing: the iPhone 17 lineup is already getting a redesign this year with the 17 Air and some tweaks to the Pro models. So why the rush to introduce another new design in 2026?

Is Apple just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks? Or are they genuinely trying to reinvent the wheel (or, in this case, the rectangle)?

The Real Question: Who’s This For?

Let’s be honest: the iPhone is already a near-perfect product. It’s a slab of glass and metal that does everything we need it to do. Sure, there’s always room for improvement—better cameras, longer battery life, fewer dongles—but do we really need two radical new designs in one year?

The answer, of course, is no. But Apple doesn’t care. They’re not in the business of giving us what we want; they’re in the business of creating new wants.

And if that means churning out a foldable iPhone and some other futuristic gadget in 2026, they’ll do it—whether we asked for it or not.

Gurman’s report aligns with recent comments from Tim Cook and John Ternus about Apple’s “ambitious” iPhone roadmap. And sure, ambition is great. But let’s not forget that ambition often leads to overkill. Remember the iPhone Mini? Exactly.

The truth is, Apple’s relentless push for innovation sometimes feels less about solving real problems and more about justifying higher price tags. A foldable iPhone might be cool, but is it necessary?

And what about this mystery design? Will it actually improve our lives, or will it just be another shiny object to distract us?

Love it or hate it, Apple’s 2026 iPhone lineup is shaping up to be a wild ride. A foldable iPhone? Sure, why not. A second, completely new design? Okay, Apple, you’ve got our attention.

But as we gear up for yet another wave of iPhones, let’s ask ourselves: who’s really asking for this?

Spoiler alert: it’s not us. It’s Apple. And they’re betting we’ll buy it anyway.