May 17 (Reuters) - Apple ( AAPL ) is developing a

slimmer version of the iPhone that is likely to be launched by

2025, the Information reported on Friday, citing three people

with knowledge of the project.

The potential thinner version is likely to be priced higher

than Apple's ( AAPL ) iPhone Pro Max, and is expected to be launched with

the iPhone 17 in September 2025, the report said.

The Cupertino, California-based company is still testing

different designs for the device, code-named D23, that could

have Apple's ( AAPL ) latest-generation processor, likely called A19, the

report added.

Apple ( AAPL ) did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for

comment.

The expected revamp underscores Apple's ( AAPL ) need to spruce up

the iPhone, the company's most popular product, as it grapples

with tough competition from Honor and Huawei in China and

Samsung Electronics ( SSNLF ) globally.

Samsung had the largest share of the smartphone market in

the first three months of 2024 with 20.8%, followed by Apple's ( AAPL )

17.3% market share, according to research firm International

Data Corporation.

For the fiscal second quarter, Apple's ( AAPL ) iPhone sales fell

10.5% to $45.96 billion.

Apple ( AAPL ) also plans to drop its less expensive model iPhone

Plus and intends to launch a cheaper iPhone, a successor to its

iPhone SE in the spring of 2025, the report said.

The news come days after Apple ( AAPL ) unveiled its latest iPad Pro

with a new chip for artificial intelligence computing as it

rushes to catch up with its Big Tech rivals in a race to

dominate the emerging technology.