Apple’s Foldable iPhone Is Coming—Here’s the Expected Release Date

Although foldable iPhone rumors have been around for a while, new sources indicate that Apple may finally be ready to reveal its new device. Apple reportedly has two foldable items in the works: a massive 20-inch foldable iPad and a foldable iPhone with an interior display of about 8 inches. According to plans, the foldable iPhone will launch first.

Screen Information

A book-style folding, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Apple’s first foldable iPhone is supposedly going to have a phone-sized display on the exterior and a larger tablet-sized display on the inside when the device is unfolded.

Apple’s foldable iPhone would have a 5.5-inch external display and a 7.8-inch inside display, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. According to reports, this screen will also be free of creases:

The foldable iPhone will have a book-style design, featuring an approximately 7.8-inch crease-free inner display and an approximately 5.5-inch outer display.

The iPhone Fold would have an almost 4:3 aspect ratio, according to another leaker, which would make the internal display are similar to an older iPad mini.

Additional Hardware Details

Ming-Chi Kuo, a supply chain analyst, claims that although the iPhone Fold will have high-end hardware, there will be tradeoffs.

To begin with, Apple will not be able to fit Face ID into the thin chassis. It will be 9 mm folded and 4.5 mm unfolded. Given that the 13-inch iPad Pro is 5.1 mm thick, the foldable iPhone would be the thinnest Apple product to date:

Touch ID returns as a side button, as Face ID may be absent due to thickness and internal space constraints.

Still, it will be built fairly well. Full titanium alloy will be used for the case of the foldable iPhone, while “stainless steel and titanium alloy” will be used for the hinge.

Foldable Market

The Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) predict that Apple’s next iPhone Fold will help the folding device market, which is currently in decline.

The market for foldables grew at an astounding 40% per year between 2019 and 2023. But according to the group, that will drastically fall to only 5% growth in 2024, and the market will actually start to see a drop in sales starting in 2025.

DSCC’s latest report on the foldable and rollable/slidable display market for all display applications shows that the foldable smartphone market has stalled. After enjoying at least 40% growth per year from 2019-2023, DSCC now believes the foldable smartphone display market will rise just 5% in 2024 and fall by 4% in 2025. Demand has stalled at around 22M panels.

However, the organization believes that Apple’s entry into the market would lead to a sharp rise in demand for foldables because the business might offer new features. Personally, I’ve heard a lot of people say that while they appreciate the idea of folding phones, they simply can’t give up their iPhone.

Price

One report says that the iPhone Fold will be a bit costly.

According to one leaker, it will probably start between $2100 and $2300. That would make it somewhat superior than the Android rivals, including the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 6. Here, Apple is aiming for a high-end device, and the cost will correspond with that.

Date of release

Multiple sources predict that Apple will release the first foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026, most likely along with the iPhone 18 series. This assumes that no more developmental delays exist. Apple gave the project a new V68 codename in the middle of 2024, indicating that the product has progressed beyond the prototyping phase and that we should anticipate holding it in our hands soon.