iPhone SE 4, AR Glasses, foldable iPhone: What's cooking in Apple's kitchen for the next few years?

The tetraprism lens is a new type of telephoto camera lens introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It's designed to address a common challenge in smartphone cameras: fitting a long zoom lens into a thin phone body. Apple's solution is a folded lens design called a tetraprism. Here's how it works:

• Instead of a long string of lenses, the tetraprism uses a special prism shaped like a folded wave.
• Light enters the lens and bounces off the prism multiple times (four, hence the name tetraprism), effectively folding the light path and increasing the focal length.
• This allows for significant zoom (5x in the iPhone 15 Pro Max) without requiring a bulky lens assembly.

As iPhone releases always follow a schedule, it's safe to say this latest product for 2024 is surely coming. While there may be some questions about its specs, its arrival is not in doubt.

Apple products in 2025: What's next?

In 2025, the roadmap revisits some earlier rumors, like the iPhone SE 4 with a 6.1-inch OLED display and a beefed-up 48MP rear camera. With Apple's release pattern in mind, it's quite likely to see the iPhone SE 4 next year. The iPhone SE 3 was released in 2022, so it's definitely time for the next generation.

The iPhone SE 4 would be quite the upgrade from the previous generation if all the leaks prove to be accurate. Alongside the improved camera—jumping from a modest 12MP rear-facing camera in its predecessor to an impressive 48MP rear camera—the display is expected to see significant enhancements, too.

Moreover, rumors hint at an enhanced battery, with capacity potentially leaping from 2018mAh in the iPhone SE 3 to 3279mAh in the upcoming iPhone SE 4. In other words, it might be using the same battery as the iPhone 14.

The roadmap also hints at triple 48MP rear cameras making their way to the iPhone 17 Pro series. But hey, that is not all, as it also suggests that the FaceTime camera on the iPhone 17 Pro models will boast 48MP, as well, and include optical image stabilization.

These claims find support in previous leaks from renowned analyst Jeff Pu, suggesting that the iPhone 17 Pro Max might be the first iPhone with an entire rear camera squad of 48-megapixel shooters. The upgrade to the front selfie camera is backed by previous reports by TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, making it likely to happen.

Rumors also suggest that the FaceTime camera on the iPhone 17 will use a six-element lens, compared to the five-element lens used in the iPhone 15 and expected in the iPhone 16 series. This upgrade should enhance the quality of video chats and images captured using the camera.

So, when it comes to 2025, the roadmap seems quite plausible, and it's more likely than not that we will see the mentioned devices and their upgrades, too. However, only time will truly confirm these speculations.

2026: Peeking into the foldable future

In 2026, the roadmap teases the first-ever foldable iPhone. However, Revegnus, the tipster who shared this very roadmap, later clarified that the release of the foldable iPhone has reportedly been pushed to 2027.

According to the roadmap, the device might rock a 6-inch cover display and an 8-inch internal screen, hinting at a book-style foldable design. While no other leaks have backed this claim, at least the suggested display sizes align with similar foldable devices on the market.

For instance, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a 7.6-inch inner foldable display and a 6.2-inch cover display. If the leak is true, it could mean the foldable iPhone inner display might be slightly larger than the latest Galaxy Z Fold.

Yet, until Apple drops its first-ever foldable iPhone, we will probably see at least two more generations of Samsung’s book-style smartphone. So, whether the foldable iPhone will really be bigger is still up in the air. Who knows what the Galaxy Z Fold 9 would look like?

Rumors about the foldable iPhone are conflicting. But with so many swirling around, it is fair to assume it is at least in the works. But let's not get ahead of ourselves; predicting a release date is like trying to catch a greased pig. So, this time around, the roadmap might not be spot-on, and we might still be a ways off from getting our hands on a foldable iPhone.

Moving on. The roadmap indicates that an OLED iPad Air line is set to debut in 2026, featuring an 8.4-inch model and a 10.9-inch model. While this information is promising, it is wise to approach it with a hint of skepticism, as well.

2027: Apple’s distant horizon

2027—the year that feels like a distant dream. According to the roadmap, Apple is gearing up to unveil its first-ever AR glasses. Back in 2023, Mark Gurman hinted that Apple was "at least four years away" from such a product if it ever materializes. Well, 2027 is just four years from 2023, so it's possible we might finally get a glimpse of them.

Adding fuel to the fire, a patent submission from late last year lends further credence to the possibility of their arrival. So, the roadmap's suggestion seems quite promising.

Additionally, another product slated for 2027 is a foldable iPad boasting a 20-inch display. Previous rumors speculate that the first ever foldable Apple device could be a foldable iPad Mini, marking a celebration of the iPhone's 20th anniversary, which is... in 2027.

It would make sense for Apple to explore the idea of a foldable iPad Mini, as it could be a way for the company to revive sales of the iPad mini form factor and attract attention to the category.

So, is Apple's future as bright as the rumors suggest?

With so many leaks, rumors, and claims swirling around, sometimes it's hard to separate fact from fiction. Ultimately, we can only be sure of something once it is officially released or confirmed by the company itself. However, if this roadmap proves to be accurate, it paints a promising picture for Apple's future products.

The company seems poised to enter the foldable smartphone market sooner or later while also making strides in the AR/VR world. And let's not forget about its iconic product—the iPhone—which will undoubtedly continue to see improvements in the future.

Predicting what the future holds is no easy feat, but staying updated with all the latest news is key to anticipating where things might go. Based on the information we have now, it looks like the iPhone SE 4 is on the horizon, along with OLED iPad Pros and the next generations of the iPhone. As for the rest of the products, only time will tell if they are truly in the pipeline.