Apple Abandons All-Glass iPhone Project, Foldable Model Steps in
Apple's decision to abandon its all-glass iPhone project has sent shockwaves through the tech industry, with analysts at Jefferies downgrading the company's stock rating and lowering their price target.
The ambitious project was expected to be one of the most expensive and technologically advanced devices in Apple's lineup, potentially boosting the average selling price (ASP) of iPhones. However, following reports of its cancellation, Jefferies has lowered their forecast for iPhone ASP growth from 9% to 6.1% for fiscal years 2026-2031.
Memory-related challenges are also weighing on Apple's plans, with the company testing a DRAM increase to 16 GB only for the iPhone 19 Pro Max. If memory prices continue to rise, the additional 4 GB could cost Apple $60-$70, raising questions about the viability of such an upgrade.
In the absence of the all-glass iPhone, analysts are now betting on the foldable model as a means to increase average selling prices. Jefferies expects the starting price of the foldable iPhone to be around $2,099, with the 2 TB version potentially reaching $3,099. However, even this device is seen as a niche product, with sales forecast at about 14 million units in fiscal year 2028.