Now that the mud has settled from the iPhone 15 launch, it’s time to have a look at what Apple may very well be doing in 2024. Rumors have been rampant a couple of potential “Ultra” telephone that might seemingly supplant the Pro collection as the top-of-the-line mannequin. That may very well be one of the potentialities as we inch nearer to the fall when Apple holds its standard iPhone launch occasion — when an iPhone 16 Ultra might debut.There’s one other potential course, although, and it revolves on a type issue that Apple has but to sort out. I’m referring to a foldable telephone rumored to be referred to as the iPhone Flip — and one thing I’ve been personally eager to see. After years of utilizing Samsung’s foldable telephones, like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5, the foldable type issue has confirmed to have large attraction. Apple desperately wants to answer this rising market, which already noticed a shakeup in 2023, as OnePlus and (*16*) got here out with foldables of their very own.This is why I’m exploring an iPhone 16 Ultra vs. iPhone Flip comparability to inform you what I think Apple should release first. I extremely doubt that the firm would wish to release two ground-breaking iPhones in the identical calendar 12 months. Between them, there is a extra compelling argument in favor of the iPhone Flip. Here’s why.Timing a release for earlier in the 12 months(Image credit score: #iOS Beta News/YouTube)The first level I wish to make for releasing an iPhone Flip includes timing. Apple usually reserves its fall September occasion for its standard iPhone collection — in 2024, that is going to be the iPhone 16 extra possible than not. And that additionally leaves the first half of the 12 months broad open for a handset release.In the previous, the solely different iPhone introduced exterior Apple’s fall occasion has been the iPhone SE collection — with the iPhone SE (third Gen) debuting at a March 2022 occasion. Even although it’s nonetheless unsure if we’ll see a successor this 12 months, Apple may use the alternative to announce an iPhone Flip.This technique would play properly in opposition to Samsung, seeing that the firm is slated to unveil its flagship in the Galaxy S24 collection later this month — saving its personal foldable telephones bulletins for the late summer time. There’s an enormous stretch between now and September for Apple to attend on making an announcement, in order that’s why an iPhone Flip release in the first half of 2024 could be well-timed. (I should word right here that some individuals think the Flip will not be prepared till 2025 at the earliest.)Consumers crave foldables(Image credit score: Future)The actuality is that foldable telephones by and enormous are garnering the most consideration from shoppers, and gross sales show that. According to a report from analysis agency DSCCC, there was a 215% enhance in foldable telephone gross sales in Q3 2023 over the earlier quarter, with a 16% increase over the identical time interval in 2022.There are a number of causes for the surge in foldable telephone gross sales, however there’s no denying the added utility that they provide over standard slate smartphones. Take flip phone-style foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Motorola Razr+, which turn into a fraction of their dimension when folded over whereas their giant exterior shows take content material creation to a distinct stage. There’s simply no approach that an iPhone 16 Ultra can do all of that.Apple could be smart to discover the flip telephone fashion first relatively than a notebook-esque design featured on the (*16*) Pixel Fold and OnePlus Open. That’s primarily as a result of Apple may mainly take the designs of its current iPhone 15/15 Plus and incorporate a foldable show to get it completed. Trying to undertake a a lot bigger display screen may complicate issues for Apple — locking down a vendor who may ship the mandatory provides and parts for such a tool, for instance.But this leads me to my subsequent basic and last motive why Apple should release an iPhone Flip first over an iPhone 16 Ultra. It comes down to cost.Consumers do not want one other extremely costly telephone(Image credit score: Future)Apple made the transfer to extend the value of its iPhone 15 Pro Max final fall by $100, making it the costliest iPhone so far at $1,199. That’s most likely why it will make extra sense for an iPhone Flip to pack specs much like the customary iPhone 15. Much like different flip-style foldable telephones, I suspect that an iPhone Flip would pack a twin digital camera setup — saving its triple digital camera association with optical telephoto skills for its Pro and Ultra collection.Seeing that the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus sit at $799 and $899, respectively, I would surmise that $999 is the candy spot for an iPhone Flip. You’ll need to pay the premium for its distinctive type issue and additional utility. Furthermore, it will compete properly in opposition to different current foldables at that value.Using the identical logic behind the costs of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, there’s a $400 value distinction between them. That would imply we may see an iPhone 16 Ultra at $1,399 understanding that the iPhone 15 Pro prices $999. I personally can’t think about paying that quantity for a smartphone, and I think shoppers would likewise really feel the pinch from an Ultra mannequin that costly.All of those causes are why Apple should focus its efforts on releasing an iPhone Flip earlier than an iPhone Ultra. Apple has but to essentially discover what it will possibly do with foldables, which might carry precisely the sort of variety its telephone lineup wants.More from Tom’s GuideToday’s greatest Apple AirTags offers
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