Apple(US:AAPL) 3 6 Ke·2025-08-28 06:50Core Viewpoint - The upcoming iPhone 17 is expected to break the record for the longest sales period of a flagship iPhone model, which has been held by the iPhone 4 for over 15 months [2][3]. Group 1: Historical Context - The iPhone 4 was released on June 24, 2010, and remained the flagship model until the iPhone 4S was launched on October 14, 2011, maintaining its status for approximately 477 days, or about 15.7 months [3]. - The iPhone 11 Pro held the second-longest sales period at 399 days, or about 13.1 months, before being replaced by the iPhone 12 Pro [3]. Group 2: Future Projections - The iPhone 17 is projected to be sold for around 550 days, or approximately 18 months, before the anticipated release of the iPhone 18 in spring 2027 [3][4]. - Apple is considering staggering the release dates of the base model and Pro versions, which would contribute to the extended sales period of the iPhone 17 [3][4]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The presence of the Pro series and the upcoming Air series is expected to mitigate the "dry spell" experienced during the transition from iPhone 4 to iPhone 4S, as consumers will have other options during the iPhone 17 to iPhone 18 upgrade cycle [4]. - The introduction of the first foldable iPhone is anticipated to represent a significant hardware transformation in the iPhone lineup, although the iPhone 17 is still expected to achieve the longest sales duration for a standard flagship model [4]. Group 4: Shortest Sales Periods - The iPhone 12 to iPhone 13 transition lasted only 11 months due to delays caused by the pandemic, marking one of the shortest sales periods for flagship models [5]. - The iPhone X, released in September 2017 but officially available from November 2017, had a main sales period of just 10 months before being succeeded by the iPhone XS [6].