The basic design of the iPhone hasnt changed much in the last few years. New models get better annually, but the average person probably wouldnt use the word innovation to describe Apples recent upgrades. According to Tim Cook though, the iPhone roadmap looks especially exciting and theres a lot of innovation ahead.Yesterday, Apple reported its holiday quarterly earnings. It was the biggest quarter in the companys history with over $124 billion in revenue.Depending on who you ask, however, holiday iPhone sales were either a disappointment or success. A big miss in China, possibly due to AIs absence, dragged down the iPhone 16 overall despite it outperforming iPhone 15 in most markets.But on the companys earnings call, CEO Tim Cook reiterated a bright future for the iPhone.When asked about iPhone innovation, Cook replied:Theres a lot more to come and I could not feel more optimistic about our product pipelinetheres a lot of innovation left on the smartphone.His words could be interpreted as just boilerplate positivity, which Cook expertly harnesses when speaking publicly.But they also reaffirm various rumors and reports that point to the iPhone being on the brink of fresh hardware innovation.iPhone 17 Air and foldable will usher in new wave of hardware innovationBack in October, hardware chief John Ternus told Apples engineering group that the companys upcoming iPhones would be the most ambitious in the products history.While Apple is always working years ahead on new iPhone models, we do know about two models he could be referring to.Later this year, the iPhone 17 Air will introduce a radically ultra-thin design and new screen size. Thanks to its drastic physical changes, it should be the first model in years that evokes the old question from onlookers, Is that the new iPhone?Then next year, if Apples current timelines hold up, we should see the first ever foldable iPhone. The iPhone 18 Fold, as Im calling it, will have a top-down fold design like the flip phones of olden daysand the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.If Apple is able to successfully ship both devices as expected, it will prove an especially exciting time for new iPhone hardware.What do you think of Tim Cooks iPhone remarks? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel