Thin Is In Before a Foldable Is Out

Something was in the air this week, as Tim Cook teased on Monday. The (recycled) pun was obviously related to the new M4 MacBook Airs (which look good – literally, in a new blue hue) and a new iPad Air (which looked, well, like an iPad Air). They threw in a new entry-level iPad and Mac Studio, neither of which is 'Air' related, but Apple is clearly playing to the biggest brand here. And while it's too early in the year for a new iPhone – well, aside from the branding-challenged '16E' variety – the continued touting of the 'Air' brand might suggest that Apple does indeed intend to use it for the rumored-just-up-to-the-point-of-reality thin iPhone. You know, the 'iPhone Air'.

Assuming its coming in the fall, it will be an interesting launch for Apple. First and foremost, it's a new form factor, and those tend to do well for Apple if for no other reason than they look different and shoot such devices right back to status symbols. But it's also unlikely to be the top-of-the-line device when it comes to specs. In fact, it may be replacing the iPhone 'Plus' models, if yet more rumors are to be believed. That would slot it in between the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro, at least in terms of presumed specs.