Bloomberg places John Ternus as the face of the future foldable iPhone in his debut as CEO of Apple

Apple could use one of its most delicate upcoming releases to also define the start of its new managerial stage. According to information published by Bloomberg and reported by Gizmodothe company would be preparing the arrival of John Ternus to the position of CEO so that it is closely linked to the debut of a new foldable iPhonea device that would open an unprecedented category within the manufacturer’s catalog.

The report, signed by Mark Gurman and based on sources familiar with internal plans, indicates that Ternus will officially take over as CEO on September 1, 2026. Just two weeks later, he would be the one who would take the stage at the big product presentation event in September. The idea, always according to Bloomberg data, is to turn it into the visible face of a new stage supported by a product that Apple considers strategic.

Tim Cook’s relief comes across the most symbolic launch

The maneuver fits with the succession context that Apple had already begun to draw. In January we saw how Tim Cook reinforced the role of John Ternus by delegating design control to him at Apple, a move that clearly pointed to his preparation as heir. Later, the company confirmed that John Ternus will replace Tim Cook as CEO in September 2026, thus closing a replacement that had been brewing for some time.

The novelty of the Bloomberg report is that this change in leadership would not occur in isolation, but rather linked to the launch of the supposed folding. According to these sources, Apple wants to highlight that Ternus has piloted the process, reinforcing the idea that his debut as CEO will not only be institutional, but also the presentation of a new cycle for the iPhone and for the company itself.

A $2,000 iPhone to open a new stage at Apple

Another key point of the report is the price. Bloomberg points out that this foldable iPhone would start at around $2,000, a high figure even for Apple, although not entirely strange in a category where Samsung has been moving in that range for years. The challenge would not be so much to sell an expensive product as to convince that it comes with a proposal mature enough to justify that premium compared to the conventional iPhone.

The operation also leaves a clear reading for Tim Cook. If the foldable ends up debuting under the command of Ternus, the device could become the great symbol of Apple’s new direction, while the Vision Pro would be associated as the last major launch of the previous stage. The transition would be both executive and narrativesomething very typical of a company that carefully measures each important change.

For now, it’s best to treat it as what it is, namely a Bloomberg report based on anonymous sources, not an official announcement from Apple. But even with that caution, the idea is plausible because of how it fits with the movements seen in Cupertino in recent months. More than a simple change of CEO, Apple would be preparing an entry on the scene with its own product for its new head.