What if I told you that Apple already announced its "Next Big Thing"?
Maybe we misunderstood the whole assignment and the next big thing is not a totally new device.
Did Apple unveil its "Next Big Thing"? | Image by Apple
For years, all of us who write about Apple in the media would do at least one story each year about what Apple might have in mind to replace the iPhone. After all, there will come a time when even a revolutionary device that changed the world like the iPhone will no longer be able to generate half of Apple's total revenue.
What will replace the iPhone?
To replace the iPhone, over the years we've discussed some obvious replacements such as Augmented Reality (AR) glasses. Google tried to show consumers with Google Glass how AR glasses, which overlay computer-generated content in front of a real-world image, could be the natural successor to the smartphone. The AR glasses would allow you to have all of the functionality of a smartphone in front of your eyes 24/7.
Will AR smart glasses be the next big thing?
And while Apple is workinjg on AR glasses, we are still quite a number of years away before the technology that would allow AR glasses to be a legit smartphone replacement is ready. Actually, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman mentioned Sunday in his weekly Power On newsletter that many believe that a wearable device with AI (such as smart glasses) could handle everything that users want from an iPhone replacement such as sending and receiving texts and emails, work to complete users' tasks, and make and take phone calls.
But the unveiling of the foldable iPhone Duo last Tuesday revealed that instead of having another product replace the iPhone, the iPhone could replace itself. To be more precise, the next evolution of the iPhone could be the next big thing. That would be the iPhone Duo.
Bloomberg's Gurman sees foldables becoming the dominant smartphone form factor
Gurman believes that within a decade, foldables will make up the majority of new phone sales. Before the iPhone launched in late June 2007, smartphones made up 6% of global mobile phone shipments. Today, smartphones account for 85% of handsets sold globally.
The foldable iPhone Duo in its two available colors. | Image by Apple
Here's where Gurman is right. Let's assume that AR glasses are perfected. Do you see a time when everyone dons a pair to wear 24 hours a day and seven days a week? Or, do you believe that old habits will remain and people would prefer carrying around a phone? I suspect the latter answer is correct and in that case, consumers would favor a more capable iPhone-say, one with a larger internal display that multitasks like a boss.
Pricing of future iPhone Duo models could be helped thanks to lower component costs
In other words, we could be heading to an era where the old slab form factor with a single touchscreen display is replaced by a foldable phone with an external cover screen and an internal screen that is the size of a small tablet. The only drawback could be pricing. However, as Apple starts manufacturing the foldable iPhone in larger volume, you can be sure that component prices will come down possibly allowing Apple to produce a less expensive model.
You know, we could end up with an iPhone Duo, and iPhone Duo Pro, and an iPhone Duo Pro Max replacing the current flagship lineup.
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