Abstract created by Sensible Solutions AI
In abstract:
- Macworld studies Apple’s folding iPhone is predicted to launch in late 2026 or early 2027, that includes a 7.8-inch inside show and 5.5-inch exterior display screen.
- The system will reportedly use book-style folding much like Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold, with Apple fixing the display screen crease difficulty utilizing revolutionary steel plates.
- Key options embrace A20 processor, Apple’s personal mobile modem, Contact ID energy button as a substitute of Face ID, and preliminary restricted manufacturing volumes.
We’ve been reporting on the supposedly imminent launch of a foldable iPhone for years. There have been sturdy and dependable rumors of a foldable iPhone being simply two years away, relationship way back to 2018, a minimum of. Again then, dependable studies from the likes of CNBC stated Apple was going to have a folding iPhone in the marketplace in 2020.
That turned 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025… and now it’s anticipated to land in 2026 on the earliest.
So, whereas the rumors and studies from elements suppliers and analysts are heating up and appear to be extra strong than ever, we’d advise much more warning and skepticism than regular with Apple hypothesis. With that stated, right here’s what present rumors recommend concerning the launch of a folding iPhone.
Replace March 20, 2026: In keeping with MacRumors, Barclays analyst Tim Lengthy says his provide chain informants say the iPhone Fold is being focused for a December launch, a pair months after iPhone 18 Professional fashions.
Foldable iPhone identify: What is going to or not it’s referred to as?
Many followers and pundits have gotten into the behavior of referring to the rumored system because the iFold, which has a minimum of the benefit of brevity. However there doesn’t appear to be any cause to imagine this would be the official title. A extra believable concept, proposed by a UDN report in November 2025, is that it is going to be referred to as the iPhone Fold.
Anticipated iPhone Fold launch date
In keeping with a collection of studies, the foremost design and specs of Apple’s first folding cellphone have been because of be finalized in the course of 2025, with manufacturing focused for late 2026. That will imply a launch in late 2026 or early 2027.
To this point, this timeline has been prompt by a number of sources in 2024 and 2025, together with The Data, The Wall Avenue Journal, and analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman. A November 2025 report citing supply-chain sources additionally supported this timeline, claiming the iPhone Fold was about to enter mass manufacturing and was on observe for a launch in 2026.
The cellphone is predicted to be advanced and costly to fabricate, so manufacturing quantity will seemingly be very restricted at first. A second mannequin in late 2027 ought to see increased manufacturing numbers.
Gurman reported in July 2025 that Apple will concentrate on options for the folding iPhone in iOS 27, which will probably be launched within the fall of 2026.
In a report by ChosunBiz in South Korea, Samsung Show president Lee Cheong introduced that it’s making “preparations for mass manufacturing of OLED for foldable telephones to be provided to a North American consumer.” In a while within the article, the reporter states that “Samsung Show is understood to be the unique provider of OLED to be put in in Apple’s foldable cellphone to be launched subsequent yr.”
In keeping with MacRumors, Barclays analyst Tim Lengthy stated in a analysis be aware that the folding iPhone will seemingly ship in December, a pair months after the anticipated September launch of the iPhone 18 Professional and Professional Max.
Foldable iPhone design
In 2024, The Data reported that Apple had made a few prototype “clamshell” flip-phone designs, the place the highest and backside of the cellphone fold to satisfy. Newer rumors in 2025 from Digital Chat Station on Weibo and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recommend a “guide” model fold, with a vertical fold because the left and proper sides come collectively. It is a related model to the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold.
The folding iPhone could possibly be an analogous dimension to the Pixel 9 Professional Fold.
Luke Baker
The hinge is predicted to be one in all its most original options. Some studies have prompt it is going to be fabricated from a titanium alloy, whereas analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in March 2025 that Apple is exploring using LiquidMetal for “sturdiness, enhancing display screen flatness, and minimizing crease marks” within the display screen. Apple has obtained a number of patents for hinge designs, and it’s unclear which the corporate will use within the remaining design.
On July 14, Kuo reported that Apple had discovered the way to do away with the fold crease by utilizing steel plates to assist “distribute and management bending stress.”
A leak from Weibo account Instantaneous Digital at the beginning of February says the quantity buttons will probably be on the highest edge, aligned proper. On the again will probably be two cameras on an extended skinny “plateau” much like the iPhone Air, solely black quite than color-matched to the cellphone physique.
Folding iPhone show particulars
Ming-Chi Kuo has additionally reported on the folding iPhone’s set of proposed design particulars. He says the book-style iPhone may have a 7.8-inch inside show when unfolded, and a 5.5-inch outer show. Kuo says Apple gained’t be happy till the cellphone’s show is totally crease-free when opened.
In July, TrendForce made the identical prediction, reporting that the folding iPhone would characteristic a 7.8-inch inside and 5.5-inch exterior show. A later report from The Data put the display screen sizes at 7.7 inches inside and 5.3 inches outdoors.
The folding cellphone is claimed to be at most 9.5mm thick when folded and 4.5mm when unfolded. For comparability, an iPhone 16 Professional Max is 8.5mm thick, and the thinnest iPhone of all time is the iPhone Air at 5.6mm.
Folding iPhone rumored specs: chip, cameras & options
We don’t know what processor the folding iPhone will comprise, but when it launches in 2026 as rumored, it would most likely characteristic an A20 or A20 Professional—some variant of the processor discovered within the iPhone 18.
We anticipate most iPhones to make use of Apple’s personal mobile modem and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chips by that point as properly. They could even be built-in into the primary system-on-chip.
The folding iPhone will reportedly have a Contact ID-enabled energy button quite than Face ID.
IDG
As a result of very skinny nature of the foldable iPhone, and the necessity for various front-facing cameras when folded up or unfolded, it would reportedly lack Face ID. As an alternative, Contact ID will probably be included into the facet button a lot as it’s on the iPad Air’s energy button.
There’ll reportedly be two rear cameras (seemingly a typical huge and ultrawide) and two front-facing cameras, one for when the iPhone is closed and one for when it’s open.
Folding iPhone: Value