Apple held a teleconference on the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 on 31 July, during which CEO Tim Cook responded explicitly to outside concerns that “the AI revolution or new equipment patterns may threaten the dominance of the iPhone market”. Cook stressed that iPhone remained at the heart of the apple ecosystem and would continue to be the flagship product of the company. Despite industry interest in folding screens, AI-driven wearable devices and new computing devices that are not yet visible, Cook indicated that Apple had plans to meet the challenge and was convinced that these innovations would serve iPhone rather than replace it.
In response to the analyst’s question, Cook said: “It’s hard to imagine a world without iPhone.” He elaborates on the incomparable multiple function of iPhone: “When you think about what iPhone can do… From connecting people to people, making applications and games live, to taking photos and videos, helping users explore the world, managing financial life, making payments, and many other functions … You know it’s hard to imagine a world without iPhone.”
Cook highlighted, in particular, that any new product would be designed to complement, rather than replace, iPhone, of all future possibilities that apples were exploring, a statement that suggested earlier in the anti-monopoly discussions that “the future iPhone may not be necessary in contrast to what it would be” and that it injected a strong needle into investors and faithful users.
Although Cook kept his mouth shut on the details of specific new items, his statements were largely consistent with the direction of recent explosions. There were prior rumours that Apple was developing HomePod with a display screen and enhanced AI functionality, which could be released in spring 2026. In addition, there are reports that the apple cash folding iPhone is expected to appear by the end of next year. While analysts differ on the pace of AppleAI progress, Cook indicates that iPhone itself will continue to integrate AI-driven new capabilities.
Cook’s core message is clear and strong: the iPhone’s position is unmistakable. The significance of the arrival of the AI wave and emerging equipment forms (e.g. folding screens) lies in enriching and strengthening the iPhone ecosystem rather than undermining its core status. Investors can be confident that apples will be committed to ensuring long-term growth and stability of iPhone as the ecological cornerstone of the whole, and that any innovation will revolve around this core.
