John Ternus to Introduce Foldable iPhone Days After Becoming Apple CEO

Incoming Apple CEO John Ternus is expected to introduce the company's first foldable iPhone shortly after taking over the role in early September.



According to a new report from Mark Gurman, Apple has aligned the leadership transition from Tim Cook to Ternus for September 1, allowing the new chief executive to host the fall media event shortly after stepping in. The move puts him in position to present what is expected to be Apple's most significant new iPhone form factor in years. Ternus has been closely involved in the engineering and development of the device, making him a natural choice to lead the launch.


For its first foldable, Apple is said to be focusing on four key areas: durability, performance, a significantly less visible display crease, and an internal screen that resembles the horizontal layout of an iPad when unfolded. That direction ties into Ternus' background at Apple, where he spent years working on the iPad lineup and broader hardware improvements across performance, battery life, and reliability. Earlier reports have pointed to a wide tablet-style interface designed for side-by-side apps and multitasking.

Apple is entering a category that has been established by Android manufacturers, bringing its own approach to hardware design and usability. The device is expected to sit at the top end of the lineup, both in terms of features and price.

Availability at launch may be limited. The complexity of the design and manufacturing process is expected to constrain early supply, which could make the device difficult to find in stores, particularly in the first weeks after release. Pricing is rumored to exceed $2,000, which would place it among Apple's most expensive iPhones and contribute to higher average selling prices.

The timing of the transition also means Ternus' first full quarter as CEO will include the holiday season, typically Apple's strongest period. Analysts are already forecasting a record December quarter, with revenue approaching $150 billion.


The handoff follows a similar pattern to Tim Cook's transition in 2011, when a steady pipeline of new products helped define the company's next phase. This time, the focus is on launching a new iPhone category, with Ternus directly tied to its development.