Striking new iPhone form factors will power Apple sales growth – Gene Munster

Apple’s flagship iPhone 17 Pro Max
Most of the details about Apple’s event today were already known ahead of time, longtime Apple analyst Gene Munster writes. “The two wildcards were pricing and, more importantly, what the new iPhone Air form factor would actually look like, a key factor to determine uptake,” Munster writes. “The Air’s look was largely what I expected. My biggest surprise was the more industrial, Apple Watch Ultra-like design of the iPhone Pro models. It is a subtle but powerful dynamic that should drive upgrades over the next year. The key takeaway is the two new form factors, the Pro models and the Air, make this the most significant iPhone hardware refresh since 2014.”
Gene Munster for GeneMunster.com:
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We all knew the Air was coming, and it’s thin, 28% thinner than the Pro models. Despite Apple positioning it as a Pro level device, it has noticeable gaps in camera features and battery life. Yes, its aesthetics are impressive, but the functionality still lags the Pro line.
That said, what matters most is that both the Air and Pro introduce eye catching new hardware designs. For many iPhone buyers, the phone is a reflection of their personal brand, and when it is obvious you have the latest and greatest, that becomes a selling point.
I was most impressed by the meaty new Pro form factor, which sits nicely alongside the Watch Ultra. Apple is clearly playing up that industrial look in its marketing… Battery life, cameras, and new features like recording video from both front and rear cameras simultaneously matter, but they are incremental. Apple needs to deliver them to keep phones fresh, but compared to form factor changes, they are secondary. What matters most is form factor, and Apple successfully landed two winners…
I believe iPhone should grow around 10% year over year in December, ahead of the Street’s 7% target. For FY26, the Street expects 5% iPhone growth. I expect closer to 7% plus, which would mark the best growth since FY22.

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MacDailyNews Take: Boom times loom for Apple with a very strong iPhone lineup and a large pool of upgraders holding older iPhones going into Christmas shopping season and throughout 2026!

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