Apple is preparing a major design overhaul for its 20th anniversary iPhone, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reporting that the company is aiming to make a bold leap in both design and hardware. Among the biggest changes in the works is a Pro model that could lean heavily into glass construction—potentially reviving the design vision former chief designer Jony Ive once championed. Gurman notes that Apple is developing a “bold new Pro model” that will make more extensive use of glass than any iPhone before. While this raises concerns over durability, it signals a renewed focus on sleekness and visual unity—an approach Ive had long pushed for, particularly around the time of the iPhone X. If the design holds, this model could be the closest Apple has come to producing an iPhone that resembles a single, uninterrupted sheet of glass. In parallel, Gurman reports that Apple is advancing work on its first foldable iPhone, a product that has been in development for years but has yet to surface. With the 20-year milestone approaching in 2026, the timing could be deliberate—Apple may finally be ready to enter the foldable space with a product that meets its rigorous design and usability standards. This evolution builds on Apple’s current push toward thinner and lighter devices. The upcoming iPhone 17 Air, set to launch later this year, will reportedly introduce a significantly slimmer form factor. Gurman previously described that model as the first step in a broader transition toward ultra-thin iPhones across the lineup. While full details on the 2026 iPhones remain under wraps, what’s clear from Gurman’s reporting is that Apple sees the anniversary as more than just a milestone—it’s an opportunity to reset expectations and rethink what the iPhone can be.

Walk into any café, glance around an airport terminal, or sit through a subway ride during rush hour, and one thing is immediately clear: the smartphone is everywhere. It’s the most personal, most used, and arguably most important consumer device of the modern era. For the better part of two decades, it’s been the hub of our digital lives—always within arm’s reach, always evolving. But in 2025, a quieter question is beginning to surface: have smartphones finally reached the limits of their innovation? There was a time when each year brought a major leap forward. The touchscreen replaced the keyboard. The App Store changed how we used software. Front-facing cameras made selfies a global phenomenon. Then came fingerprint sensors, face ID, edge-to-edge OLED displays, multi-lens camera systems, 120Hz refresh rates, and AI-powered image processing. These changes were bold, visible, and exciting. But today, the annual cycle of smartphone announcements feels more like a familiar ritual than a glimpse into the future. The improvements we see now—whether it’s slightly faster silicon, a brighter screen, a few extra hours of battery, or slightly better night photography—are all welcome. But they’re incremental. Even die-hard tech enthusiasts are asking: when was the last time a new smartphone feature truly changed the way we live or work? This isn’t to say innovation has stopped. Far from it. The internal complexity of modern smartphones is staggering. We’re packing more performance into thinner bodies than ever before, with chips rivaling desktop-class CPUs and cameras capable of competing with DSLRs. But the outward experience—the part the user actually feels—has flattened. The difference between a 2020 flagship and a 2024 model is often hard to notice without a side-by-side comparison. So, are we witnessing peak smartphone? In many ways, yes. The category has matured. It’s no longer a race to define what a smartphone is—that was settled long ago. Now, the focus is on refining that vision, optimizing it, and extending its reach into the rest of our lives. The smartphone, once the frontier of new ideas, is gradually becoming the foundation upon which other technologies are being built. Take wearables. The Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch aren’t just accessories—they’re quiet extensions of the smartphone, designed to take on specific tasks like fitness tracking, navigation, or notification triage. Then there’s the rise of wireless earbuds like AirPods, which have become smart assistants in our ears. With each passing year, the phone delegates a little more of its responsibility to the ecosystem around it. Even more interesting is how spatial computing and ambient technology are shaping the conversation. Apple’s Vision Pro and Meta’s mixed reality headsets aren’t being positioned as “phone replacements,” but they hint at a future where immersive, spatial interfaces might eventually change how we interact with digital content altogether. These devices offer a glimpse into a world where we’re no longer limited to a 6-inch slab of glass—we can pin windows to our real surroundings, manipulate them with gestures, and blend the physical and digital in ways a smartphone never could. But despite these advancements, we’re not ready to let go of our phones. Their portability, convenience, and familiarity are unmatched. No headset, glasses, or wearable offers the same balance of size, power, and utility—at least not yet. And that’s why, even if we’ve reached a plateau in design and function, smartphones remain essential. What’s really changing isn’t the phone, but the role it plays. The smartphone is becoming a bridge between old and new—a controller for spatial interfaces, a companion for AI-powered tools, and a fallback screen when ambient systems aren’t available. The innovation now lives in the experiences it enables, not just the hardware itself. That shift is already well underway with the rise of AI smartphones. Google has led the charge with its Pixel line, integrating real-time translation, call screening, AI-enhanced photography, and summarization tools that feel less like features and more like assistants. Samsung followed quickly with the Galaxy S24 series, branded around “Galaxy AI,” offering live language interpretation during calls, generative photo editing, and smart summarization of webpages and voice notes. Apple, known for its thoughtful and measured approach to emerging tech, recently stepped into this space with Apple Intelligence—its new suite of generative AI tools coming to iOS 18, iPadOS, and macOS. Unlike cloud-heavy models, Apple is emphasizing on-device processing where possible, with Private Cloud Compute handling larger models in a privacy-focused way. The new Siri will be context-aware, capable of summarizing messages, organizing emails, editing images, and understanding natural language like never before. In true Apple fashion, it’s not a chatbot bolted onto a phone—it’s a system-wide intelligence layer that makes the entire experience feel more helpful and cohesive. This is the pivot: smartphones aren’t getting radically different shapes—they’re getting smarter, more aware, and more personalized. The latest wave of innovation isn’t something you see on a spec sheet. It’s how the phone knows you didn’t mean to send that typo, or how it suggests rescheduling your 2PM meeting after reading your calendar and noticing a flight delay. That’s not just a new feature—it’s a new relationship with technology. So while we may have reached a plateau in visible hardware changes, we’re entering a powerful new phase of invisible innovation—where intelligence, not just hardware, defines what a phone can be.

For over 15 years, the smartphone has been the centerpiece of our digital lives. It’s the device we wake up to, rely on throughout the day, and often fall asleep next to. It’s our calendar, camera, navigation system, gaming console, and lifeline to everyone we care about. But quietly, in the labs of the world’s biggest tech companies, something new is being built—something that might not just challenge the smartphone, but redefine the way we interact with technology altogether. AR smart glasses have long hovered on the edge of possibility. They’ve shown up in sci-fi films, early prototypes, and bold experiments like Google Glass in 2013. Back then, the idea of wearing digital overlays in the real world felt intrusive, awkward, and even a little dystopian. The product flopped, not just because of technical limitations but because the world wasn’t ready. Fast forward to today, and the story is changing fast. Apple is investing heavily in spatial computing with the Vision Pro, a stepping stone to something lighter and more wearable. Rumors of a device called Apple Glass persist, with insiders suggesting a future where your iPhone becomes less of a screen and more of a behind-the-scenes processor. Meta has released new Ray-Ban smart glasses that pair stylish frames with voice-activated AI and seamless photo capture. Meanwhile, Samsung, Snap, and others are experimenting with glasses that can display virtual screens, translate languages in real-time, and more. These aren’t just gadgets—they’re early glimpses into a new way of living. The rising interest in AR smart glasses is backed by clear market trends. While smartphones are projected to maintain their stronghold—growing from around 1.22 billion units shipped in 2024 to 1.7 billion by 2030—the AR smart glasses market is expanding at a much faster pace. According to recent data, the global market for AR smart glasses is expected to grow from $1.93 billion in 2024 to over $8.2 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of more than 27%. The graph above illustrates this contrast clearly: smartphones continue their steady climb, while AR smart glasses accelerate quickly in market value, hinting at the early stages of a broader shift in how we interact with technology. Imagine walking through a new city and seeing arrows float on the sidewalk, guiding your next turn. You look at a café and instantly see reviews. A text message pops into your peripheral vision, and with a blink or a simple spoken phrase, you reply—no device in your hand, no screen to unlock, no friction. This is the world AR glasses aim to create. Not a replacement for reality, but a digital layer seamlessly embedded into it. The challenge is that this vision, as appealing as it is, runs into hard limits. Powering AR glasses requires serious processing, high-resolution displays, advanced sensors, and constant connectivity. But the human face isn’t built to hold a bulky battery or a noisy fan. Everything has to be compact, lightweight, and cool to the touch. Companies are racing to solve this engineering puzzle—how to deliver powerful performance in something as discreet as a pair of reading glasses. Then there’s privacy. A smartphone can be kept in your pocket or turned screen-down on a table. Glasses, by nature, are always on your face. If they include cameras or microphones, people around you may not know when they’re being recorded. That creates a social and ethical dilemma that designers and lawmakers are still grappling with. Trust, not just tech, will determine whether AR glasses can become as ubiquitous as smartphones. Style matters too. People won’t adopt glasses that look overly futuristic or uncomfortable. The key to success lies in making AR glasses as fashionable and normal as regular eyewear. The moment they feel like something you’d want to wear anyway—even without tech inside—is the moment adoption takes off. But here’s the twist: smart glasses may not need to completely replace smartphones at all. A more likely future is one of partnership. Your phone could remain the processor—the brain—while your glasses serve as the interface. Think of it as a divide-and-conquer model. You wear your phone’s eyes and voice on your face, while it handles the data and computing behind the scenes. This approach is already happening. Apple’s Vision Pro, for example, doesn’t fully replace your Mac or iPhone. Instead, it extends them into a new spatial environment. So will AR smart glasses replace smartphones? Maybe not in the way smartphones replaced flip phones. That transition was swift and total. This one could be more subtle—a slow shift where we stop picking up our phones so often, not because we don’t need them, but because the digital world starts to meet us where we are. When that happens, the smartphone won’t be gone. It’ll just be invisible. This is the quiet revolution—less about launching a new device, and more about changing how we interact with information. The next screen won’t live in your pocket. It might live right in front of your eyes.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has publicly praised Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek, signaling growing recognition of China’s emerging players in the global artificial intelligence race. In remarks reported by the South China Morning Post , Cook called DeepSeek’s AI models “excellent” during a recent visit to Beijing—his first trip to China this year. The endorsement came during the China Development Forum, a state-backed event aimed at attracting international investment and fostering innovation partnerships. While Cook did not go into technical detail, his comments reflect a notable shift in how U.S. tech leaders view Chinese AI capabilities—particularly at a time when Apple is working to expand its Apple Intelligence platform in mainland China. DeepSeek, based in Hangzhou, has drawn attention for creating high-performing AI models with significantly less computational cost than leading U.S. models, positioning itself as one of China’s fastest-growing AI companies. DeepSeek's models deliver results comparable to American rivals while requiring fewer resources—an efficiency that has made the start-up a standout in China’s tech ecosystem. Cook’s remarks come just days before Apple’s upcoming developer conference in Shanghai, where the company is expected to outline plans for bringing Apple Intelligence to Chinese users. Apple is awaiting final regulatory approval before fully launching the platform in China, and it has already secured partnerships with firms like Alibaba and Baidu to host localized AI models. DeepSeek, though not officially part of Apple’s current AI lineup, is now widely viewed as a potential collaborator. Apple’s relationship with China remains critical as it navigates increased competition from domestic smartphone makers and shifting geopolitical tensions. Cook’s repeated visits underscore Apple’s commitment to the Chinese market—not only as a manufacturing hub but as a center of innovation. As DeepSeek gains momentum, its recognition by one of the most influential figures in tech signals a broader shift: China’s AI breakthroughs are no longer just local achievements—they’re starting to command global attention.

Apple is making a major play in the DJ world, weaving its vast music library directly into the creative tools used by DJs worldwide. Through a new initiative, Apple Music is now integrated into top-tier DJ software and hardware ecosystems, enabling real-time access to over 100 million tracks. This move marks a significant shift for Apple Music, long seen as a consumer-focused platform. With its latest integrations, Apple is stepping directly into the performance space, aiming to become an essential tool for professional and amateur DJs alike. The new support spans platforms including Serato, AlphaTheta’s rekordbox, and inMusic’s Engine DJ, which powers gear from Denon DJ, Numark, and RANE. Users of Algoriddim’s djay app, which has supported Apple Music since last year, now find themselves joined by a broader DJing community. For creators, the implications are immediate. Set preparation no longer requires downloading tracks or bouncing between platforms. DJs can now curate, organize, and perform with streaming content on the fly—whether on an iPhone, iPad, or performance hardware. This deeper integration arrives under Apple’s new “DJ with Apple Music” initiative, a dedicated push to support dance and electronic creators with tools and editorial content. A new Apple Music hub offers curated playlists tailored to mixing, along with DJ-friendly edits, providing a streamlined experience from discovery to performance.

How to Attend the WWDC 2025 Special Event at Apple Park Check Eligibility You must be one of the following to apply:– A current Apple Developer Program or Enterprise Program member– An Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumnus– A Swift Student Challenge winner (from 2023–2025) Apply by the Deadline Go to the Apple Developer website and submit a special event pass request before 11:59 p.m. PT on Wednesday, April 2 . Lottery Selection Apple will randomly select attendees due to limited space at Apple Park. Winners will be notified by Thursday, April 3 . Swift Student Challenge Winners All 350 winners will be announced on Thursday, March 27 .– 50 Distinguished Winners get automatic invites to a three-day experience.– The remaining 300 can apply for the Apple Park event lottery. Costs The event is free, but you must pay for your own travel and lodging. Age Requirements Applicants aged 13–17 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

Image Credit: Front Page Tech Hints of Apple’s next major iOS update are beginning to surface, with early visuals suggesting a dramatic design shift in iOS 19. Leaker Jon Prosser has released a series of concept images, claiming they’re faithful recreations of the actual interface changes Apple is working on, though not all elements in his preview are meant to be taken seriously. While the software isn’t expected to be revealed until WWDC in June, Prosser’s showcase highlights a potential shift toward a more fluid, glass-inspired interface. Several UI components appear to mirror the aesthetic of visionOS, Apple’s software for Vision Pro, including semi-transparent buttons, floating menus, and heavily rounded edges across system apps and the keyboard. Some of the most notable previews involve the Messages and Camera apps, where navigation buttons take on a pill-like shape and menus adopt a light, airy visual treatment. While there are no major functional changes hinted at just yet, the design evolution may unify the look and feel of iOS with Apple’s broader ecosystem. Apple hasn’t commented on the rumored changes, but recent official apps like Sports and Invites already show signs of this new direction, fueling speculation that iOS 19 will bring one of the most visually ambitious updates to the iPhone in years.

Apple has officially set the stage for WWDC 2025, confirming that its annual developer conference will kick off on June 9 and run through June 13. Continuing its recent format, the event will be held primarily online, free to access for developers around the globe. The conference will open with Apple’s signature keynote on June 9, where the company is expected to debut the next wave of software platforms, including iOS 19, macOS 16, and visionOS 3. Alongside the major announcements, Apple will host a range of virtual developer labs and technical sessions to offer deeper insights into the upcoming features and APIs. This year also includes a special on-site experience at Apple Park for a limited group of developers and students. Selected through a lottery system, attendees will get access to an in-person viewing of the keynote and an opportunity to meet with Apple teams directly. Invitations extend to past Swift Student Challenge winners, Apple Developer Program members, and alumni of Apple’s Entrepreneur Camp. While the main event remains online, Apple is placing a growing emphasis on community engagement through in-person touchpoints and student initiatives. Winners of the Swift Student Challenge, held earlier this year, are expected to be announced soon—with Distinguished Winners receiving a multi-day trip to Cupertino. As WWDC draws closer, more details will roll out through Apple’s Developer app and website, offering a look at what’s next for developers building across iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Vision Pro.

Apple is making a major leadership change in its artificial intelligence division according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman , by shifting oversight of Siri to a new executive as it seeks to regain momentum in the AI race. The move comes at a time when Apple has faced mounting criticism for delays in its AI-driven Siri enhancements, which were first teased at WWDC but have yet to materialize. According to reports, Mike Rockwell, the longtime leader of Apple’s Vision Pro project, will now take charge of Siri’s development. This transition marks a significant shift within the company’s hierarchy, as John Giannandrea, Apple’s current AI chief, steps away from day-to-day Siri responsibilities. While Giannandrea will remain with Apple to oversee broader artificial intelligence research, sources indicate that CEO Tim Cook has grown frustrated with the slow pace of Siri’s evolution and has pushed for a new direction. Rockwell, who has spent years developing Apple’s spatial computing efforts, now faces the challenge of overhauling Siri—a voice assistant that has increasingly struggled to compete with AI models from OpenAI and Google. Despite Apple’s public commitment to AI, Siri’s performance has remained a frequent point of contention among users, with complaints about its limited contextual understanding and outdated responses. As Rockwell steps into this new role, his previous position leading Vision Pro development will be filled by Paul Meade, a key hardware engineer on the project. While Vision Pro has been praised for its technological advancements, its commercial success remains uncertain, making Rockwell’s transition to AI an interesting strategic shift for Apple. The company’s AI strategy has faced setbacks beyond Siri. Apple's cautious approach to generative AI has left it trailing behind competitors who have rapidly deployed AI-powered chatbots and content-generation tools. While Apple Intelligence, its broader AI initiative, is expected to roll out later this year, the delayed launch of personalized Siri features has frustrated both developers and users eager for a more advanced voice assistant experience. Internally, Apple’s restructuring signals an urgent effort to reposition itself in the AI space before its rivals gain an insurmountable lead. With Rockwell now tasked with leading Siri’s transformation, the company is betting that his expertise in cutting-edge hardware and software development can breathe new life into Apple’s AI ambitions. Whether this leadership change will deliver tangible improvements to Siri remains to be seen, but the pressure is on for Apple to prove that it can still innovate in a rapidly evolving industry.

The iPhone 17 lineup is still over a year away, but leaks are already painting a picture of what Apple might have in store for its next generation of flagship devices. A newly surfaced set of iPhone 17 Pro dummy models posted on X by Sonny Dickson appears to confirm a significant shift in the rear design, blending both metal and glass in a way not previously seen. For years, Apple has experimented with different materials in its premium iPhone lineup, transitioning from stainless steel to titanium. However, recent reports indicate that the company is moving in a different direction for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Rather than sticking with a full titanium or glass build, Apple is rumored to be integrating aluminum into the back panel, creating a hybrid design that could impact both durability and aesthetics. Newly leaked mockups suggest that this change won’t be uniform across the entire rear casing. Instead, the top portion where the camera system is housed appears to be metal, while the lower half remains glass. This approach could serve multiple purposes, including optimizing wireless charging efficiency while also enhancing the strength of the device’s structure. One of the standout details from these dummy models is the way they mark out different sections of the rear panel. While previous leaks hinted at design changes, the latest images highlight new shapes and contours that provide clues about the iPhone 17 Pro’s build. Notably, the camera bump appears to be larger and now enclosed in what looks like a dedicated metal section, potentially hinting at structural reinforcements or new sensor technology. There’s also a visible indication of the MagSafe charging area, suggesting that Apple is continuing to refine its wireless charging system. This could mean efficiency improvements or even new charging accessories designed to work with the updated rear panel. Apple’s use of titanium in the iPhone 15 Pro models was a key selling point, offering a lighter yet durable frame. However, if these leaks prove accurate, the iPhone 17 Pro series could mark a departure from titanium in favor of a different metal approach. While it’s unclear whether this change is driven by cost, performance, or manufacturing efficiency, it would certainly signal a new design philosophy for Apple’s flagship smartphones. With Apple constantly refining its materials and design choices, the iPhone 17 Pro models could usher in a new era of durability and functionality. A hybrid metal-and-glass back may provide better heat dissipation, improved wireless charging, and potentially even a fresh aesthetic for the Pro lineup. While these dummy models don’t confirm every detail, they offer a glimpse into Apple’s evolving design strategy. With more leaks expected in the coming months, the full picture of the iPhone 17 lineup will gradually come into focus.

Apple’s rollout of its highly anticipated Apple Intelligence features is facing legal backlash, as a new lawsuit accuses the company of misleading advertising and deceptive business practices. According to Axios , a class action complaint filed in a San Jose court alleges that Apple misrepresented the capabilities of the iPhone 16 and iOS 18 by aggressively promoting next-generation Siri features that ultimately weren’t ready at launch. The legal action centers around Apple's early marketing campaigns that showcased advanced voice interactions and on-device intelligence features that were presented as central to the iPhone 16 experience. Consumers, the lawsuit claims, were led to believe that these Siri upgrades would be immediately available, only to discover after purchasing that the functionality had been postponed to a future software update. While Apple eventually removed promotional materials for the delayed AI features, the lawsuit alleges that the company continued to run ads for months even after it internally knew the technology wouldn’t ship on time. Plaintiffs argue that this delay paired with the high-profile marketing campaign convinced millions to upgrade based on exaggerated or incomplete information. The filing goes further, asserting that Apple capitalized on the public’s interest in generative AI by advertising capabilities that were “limited or nonexistent” in the product at launch. The plaintiffs are seeking damages and class action certification, representing users who purchased Apple Intelligence-supported devices under what they believe were false pretenses. Apple has not yet commented on the lawsuit. Still, the case raises broader questions about how tech companies promote software-based features, particularly in the fast-moving world of AI where expectations are high, and timelines are fluid. As Apple continues to evolve its Siri and Apple Intelligence platforms, this legal challenge may put added pressure on the company to set clearer expectations and deliver on them.

Apple’s streaming ambitions are hitting turbulence according to a new report from The Information . Despite boasting a growing library of original content and some critical wins, Apple TV+ is reportedly bleeding over $1 billion a year making it the only unprofitable service in Apple’s lineup. Subscriber numbers have reached around 45 million, but internal concerns are mounting about the platform’s limited reach. Viewership remains a fraction of what rivals like Netflix and Amazon command, with Apple TV+ capturing less than 1% of total U.S. streaming time. The company has scaled back its content budget slightly in 2024, after previously pouring in over $5 billion a year since launch. Sources say CEO Tim Cook has taken a more hands-on approach, questioning the value of big-budget projects like Argylle , a $200 million action-comedy that failed to move the needle in viewership or subscriptions. This closer oversight marks a shift from Apple’s earlier approach, when executives largely shielded the streaming division from financial scrutiny. That hands-off era ended after key leadership changes, including the departure of longtime services executive Peter Stern in early 2023. Beyond streaming, the rest of Apple’s services ecosystem is showing signs of fatigue. Apple Music’s subscriber growth has slowed to a crawl, and its profitability is undercut by high royalty payouts. Other offerings like Apple Arcade, Fitness+, and News+ are reportedly struggling with low engagement and minimal revenue, often surviving only due to bundling under Apple One. Apple’s services division still raked in more than $96 billion last year and remains its most profitable category thanks to strong margins from iCloud+. But without major changes, Apple’s broader media strategy could face deeper questions not just about profits, but about relevance in an increasingly crowded and competitive landscape.