MUMBAI - The biggest iPhone news in years isn’t unfolding inside Apple’s Cupertino labs but in the crowded lanes of Mumbai, where reactions range from wide-eyed excitement to sharp skepticism. From Lamington Road’s veteran mobile dealers to college students debating foldables in cafés, the city’s verdict is mixed: Apple’s bold redesigns might finally shake off years of sameness - but only if they can deliver practicality for India’s demanding users. It's been a long time coming, but the iPhone's design is finally getting a facelift. According to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman , Apple is on the cusp of an ambitious three-year plan to completely overhaul the look and feel of its flagship device. This radical roadmap kicks off this fall with the iPhone 17 Air, a new, ultra-slim model rumored to replace the Plus. Next year, Apple will finally enter the foldable market with the book-style iPhone Foldable, and the design evolution will culminate in 2027 with a radical, all...
MUMBAI - The biggest iPhone news in years isn’t unfolding inside Apple’s Cupertino labs but in the crowded lanes of Mumbai, where reactions range from wide-eyed excitement to sharp skepticism.
From Lamington Road’s veteran mobile dealers to college students debating foldables in cafés, the city’s verdict is mixed: Apple’s bold redesigns might finally shake off years of sameness - but only if they can deliver practicality for India’s demanding users. It's been a long time coming, but the iPhone's design is finally getting a facelift.
According to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is on the cusp of an ambitious three-year plan to completely overhaul the look and feel of its flagship device.
This radical roadmap kicks off this fall with the iPhone 17 Air, a new, ultra-slim model rumored to replace the Plus.
Next year, Apple will finally enter the foldable market with the book-style iPhone Foldable, and the design evolution will culminate in 2027 with a radical, all-glass iPhone 20 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the device.
The immediate changes are tied to the iPhone 17 series, with the iPhone 17 Air said to feature a single rear camera and Apple's first in-house modem.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will get a redesigned camera module, but the real buzz is about what Gurman says is coming next.
In 2026, the long-rumored foldable, codenamed V68, will reportedly have four cameras and use a new in-cell touch panel to minimize the crease.
The grand finale, the iPhone 20, is being tipped as a major redesign with an all-new curved-glass body.
This isn't just a rumor mill churning; it's a strategic pivot from a company notorious for its conservative, slow-and-steady hardware changes.
But How Does This News Resonate on the Ground in Mumbai?
As a field tech reporter, the specs and code names are one thing, but the real story is always in the streets.
I took to the bustling markets and crowded lanes of Mumbai to gauge the pulse of a city that lives and breathes technology.
From local mobile shop owners to college students, taxi drivers, and even a car owner who prides himself on his current iPhone, the reactions were a mix of skepticism, excitement, and pure pragmatism.
I first visited Vijay Electronics in the heart of the Lamington Road tech market, a hub for all things mobile.
The owner, Mr. Rohit Sharma, has been selling phones for over two decades.
He's seen every iPhone launch, from the iconic 3G to the current, familiar slab design.
"Frankly, people are tired of the same look," Mr. Sharma said, adjusting his spectacles. "The last time we saw real excitement was with the iPhone X.
That was a big change. Since then? It’s just been new colors and slightly better cameras.
Customers come in and say, 'Bhaiya, is this a new phone or just the same one in a different box?' This new iPhone Air and the foldable, that's what will bring people back to the stores, especially the young ones. The curiosity will be high."
He believes the proposed iPhone 17 Air could be a hit, but only if the trade-offs are worth it. "A thinner phone is nice, but if the battery is small, who will buy it? In a city like Mumbai, with all the travel and power cuts, a big battery is more important than a slim design. It's a very practical market."
A City’s Perspective: From College Campuses to Autorickshaw Stands
The sentiment was echoed by a group of engineering students at a nearby café.
"A foldable iPhone? Finally!" exclaimed Maya, a third-year student. "Samsung's been doing it for years.
I just don't get why Apple takes so long.
If it's as good as Gurman says, with no crease and everything, it would be a game-changer.
I'm a student, so I need a big screen for notes and projects, and the idea of one phone that becomes a small tablet is perfect.
My friends and I would save so much money on buying both an iPhone and an iPad."
Her friend, Akash, was more interested in the rumored iPhone 20. "The iPhone has looked like an iPhone since forever," he said. "The iPhone 4 had a unique design, and the iPhone 6 was so different.
The iPhone 20 sounds like it's going back to that.
A curved glass phone that’s all screen? That’s next-level stuff.
It's like something out of a sci-fi movie. I'd wait for that just for the flex."
I next spoke with Mr. Prakash, a taxi driver who uses a base model iPhone 13 for navigation and calls.
He was skeptical. "Foldable? Curved? For me, this is just a phone for work," he said, gesturing to his well-worn device.
"I need something that's strong, that doesn't break when it falls, and the battery lasts all day.
All these fancy designs sound expensive. The price of an iPhone is already a loan for me.
I don't think I'll be in the market for these new ones. The basic iPhone is more than enough for us working people."
A similar sentiment was shared by Mr. Khan, an autorickshaw driver. "My current phone is a Redmi, and it has a great battery," he said with a laugh. "I use it for UPI payments and calls.
All these Apple phones, they look the same. And they are for rich people.
Unless the price comes down, or they offer a cheaper model that's as good as my phone,
I don’t think these new designs will matter to people like me."
Finally, I spoke with Mr. Arun, a business owner who drives a Mercedes and currently owns an iPhone 16 Pro Max.
His views offered a glimpse into the high-end consumer mindset.
"Look, I've had every iPhone since the 4," he said. "Every year, I upgrade. But honestly, the last two upgrades felt... underwhelming. The 15 to the 16 was just a minor camera bump and a faster chip.
I did it because it's what I do, but I wasn't excited.
This news about the iPhone 18 has me actually looking forward to something.
An all-glass design is a bold statement. It's something different, something that makes the phone feel special again.
It’s what Apple needs. My neighbor, who has a Samsung Z Fold, is always talking about his phone, and I have to admit, it's cool.
A foldable from Apple will be a big moment for us. It will finally give us a new toy to show off."
His neighbor, Mr. Singh, who owns an iPhone 17 Pro, chimed in. "The iPhone 17 Pro is great, no doubt.
The camera module redesign is nice, but it’s still a rectangle.
A foldable iPhone, that's a whole new game.
I'm already saving up for the 2026 model.
It's time for Apple to give us something genuinely new and not just a better version of the old thing."
The verdict from Mumbai is clear: While Gurman's leaks provide the hard facts, the real impact of Apple's ambitious new roadmap will be felt not in the design renders but in the pockets and daily lives of people.
The iPhone has long been a status symbol in India, and these new, groundbreaking designs could be exactly what Apple needs to rekindle the magic and excitement that has been missing for years.
I don't think I'll be in the market for these new ones. The basic iPhone is more than enough for us working people."
A similar sentiment was shared by Mr. Khan, an autorickshaw driver. "My current phone is a Redmi, and it has a great battery," he said with a laugh. "I use it for UPI payments and calls.
All these Apple phones, they look the same. And they are for rich people.
Unless the price comes down, or they offer a cheaper model that's as good as my phone,
I don’t think these new designs will matter to people like me."
The iPhone Owner and His Neighborhood
Finally, I spoke with Mr. Arun, a business owner who drives a Mercedes and currently owns an iPhone 16 Pro Max.
His views offered a glimpse into the high-end consumer mindset.
"Look, I've had every iPhone since the 4," he said. "Every year, I upgrade. But honestly, the last two upgrades felt... underwhelming. The 15 to the 16 was just a minor camera bump and a faster chip.
I did it because it's what I do, but I wasn't excited.
This news about the iPhone 18 has me actually looking forward to something.
An all-glass design is a bold statement. It's something different, something that makes the phone feel special again.
It’s what Apple needs. My neighbor, who has a Samsung Z Fold, is always talking about his phone, and I have to admit, it's cool.
A foldable from Apple will be a big moment for us. It will finally give us a new toy to show off."
His neighbor, Mr. Singh, who owns an iPhone 17 Pro, chimed in. "The iPhone 17 Pro is great, no doubt.
The camera module redesign is nice, but it’s still a rectangle.
A foldable iPhone, that's a whole new game.
I'm already saving up for the 2026 model.
It's time for Apple to give us something genuinely new and not just a better version of the old thing."
The verdict from Mumbai is clear: While Gurman's leaks provide the hard facts, the real impact of Apple's ambitious new roadmap will be felt not in the design renders but in the pockets and daily lives of people.
The iPhone has long been a status symbol in India, and these new, groundbreaking designs could be exactly what Apple needs to rekindle the magic and excitement that has been missing for years.
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