Concept image of a Foldable iPhone, courtesy of AppleInsider.
What we know so far
It's been a few years since Samsung launched the first foldable phone on the market, the 2019 Galaxy Fold, and many other companies have joined in since then, but not Apple.
The company has not discussed foldable phones publicly and just kind of pretends they don't exist. But one thing is clear: Apple is working on not one, but several foldable devices, including a folding phone. All of that is happening secretively, behind the scenes, in a typical Apple fashion.
Multiple sources now also agree that the first foldable iPhone will be a book-style foldable, similar to the Galaxy Fold in form factor. This rumored iPhone Fold (not the final name) is expected to arrive in late 2026 or early 2027, and reports claim that the reason Apple has been holding back on that release is to remove that crease in the middle of the phone. Apparently, Apple thinks that having no crease will differentiate it from all the other foldable phones out there and finds this one detail extremely important.
Also, Apple being Apple, we expect the first foldable iPhone to have a different aspect ratio than most foldable phones on the market and offer a slightly different take on the established designs. Will it transform the foldable phone market? Let's look at everything we know so far.
We have multiple sources saying that Apple is working on releasing its first foldable iPhone in late 2026 (possibly alongside the iPhone 18 series) or in early 2027 (if it cannot put all pieces together earlier).
So far, it's still hard to predict anything more specific, but we will be updating this section as soon as we have new developments.
Foldable
Release date
Foldable iPhone (iPhone Fold)
Expected to arrive in late 2026
Foldable iPhone 2nd Gen
Late 2027
Samsung Galaxy Fold
February 2019
Huawei Mate X2 *first book style foldable from Huawei
February 2021
Honor Magic V
January 2022
Xiaomi Mix Fold
March 2021
Oppo Find N
December 2021
Vivo X Fold
April 2022
As you can see, Samsung was first with the Galaxy Fold and it took other phone makers from China around three years to come up with their own book-style foldables.
If Apple releases its iPhone Fold in 2026 that would be a seven year delay compared to the first Galaxy phone, but a more modest four year delay compared to the mass launch of foldable phones on the market.
Interestingly, a Ming-Chi Kuo report suggests that Apple will quickly follow the first generation of the iPhone Fold with a second one a year after. This might well be an annual refresh, just like other iPhones.
Apple is also betting this iPhone will be a smashing hit. The company is allegedly aiming to ship 3 to 5 million units in 2026 alone, and a whopping 20 million in 2027.
Foldable iPhone price
We are already starting to hear rumors that the first foldable iPhone will cost more than $2,000, according to one of the more reliable Apple analysts Ming-Chi Kuo. The report is unclear, but mentions the possibility that it even costs north of $2,500. We are yet to see if the base model will be closer to the $2,000, and obviously it's way too early to know a specific price, so take these rumors with a grain of salt.
Here is how this compares to other popular foldable phones on the market:
Model
Price
Foldable iPhone
Unknown, but possibly more than $2,000
Samsung Galaxy Fold 6
$1,800 for 12/256 GB base model
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
$1,800 for base model
Oppo Find N5
Slightly cheaper than the above, but not available in Western markets
Foldable iPhone design
The foldable iPhone might be smaller and wider than other foldable phones on the market. It might look a lot like the Pixel Fold on the right (Image by PhoneArena)
We are now hearing it from multiple sources that the first foldable iPhone is likely to be a bit more compact than most other foldable phones on the market.
Not only that, but it is also expected to have a wider aspect ratio, so in many ways, it could look somewhat similar to the first-generation Pixel Fold.
Unlike that phone, though, the iPhone Fold is anticipated to have a much more modern design and avoid many of the mistakes Google made with that device. Some of those were an outdated design and excessive weight.
So how thin will this new foldable iPhone be?
Model
Thickness (Folded)
Thickness (Unfolded)
Foldable iPhone*
9 - 9.5 mm
4.5 - 4.8 mm
Oppo Find N5
8.9 mm
4.2 mm
Pixel 9 Pro Fold
10.5 mm
5.1 mm
*Rumored specs.
Touch ID is also expected to make a comeback on the foldable iPhone. Since the device is expected to be quite thin, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple won't be able to fit the Face ID module and will instead opt for Touch ID embedded in the power button on the side. Most other foldable phones use this design and it seems to make the most sense for a foldable phone, so that's not really a surprise.
Foldable iPhone display
In the past few years, every report about a foldable iPhone mentioned that Apple is delaying its launch because it wants to get rid of the crease in the middle "at all costs".
Eliminating the crease has apparently been the one big factor that Apple thinks will differentiate it from all other foldable phones on the market.
This will be thanks to a new hinge that will be made of stainless steel and a titanium alloy with a titanium casing. Premium indeed.
As of late February 2025, it is finally said that the company has found the right hinge mechanism and overall mechanics to achieve that big goal, so the first foldable iPhone should arrive without a crease (or with one that is barely noticeable).
As for the iPhone Fold screen sizes, rumors have mentioned the following numbers:
5.49-inch outer screen
7.75-inch main screen
What is notable here that both of these screens are expected to be wider and less tall than on other foldable phones. So far, there are no further specifics, though.
Foldable iPhone camera
Considering that this shapes up as a premium product from Apple, we expect a powerful camera system on board.
But a March 2025 report from Ming-Chi Kuo says that the foldable iPhone will only have a dual rear camera system, so not quite as versatile as the triple cameras on the iPhone Pro and Pro Max models.
That means, we can expect the following:
Main camera, likely a 48 MP sensor
Ultra-wide camera, likely also a 48 MP sensor
If the foldable iPhone only has two cameras, chances are the telephoto camera will be dropped. That means you won't get as good a zoom quality as on other foldable phones. In comparison, you do get a 5X telephoto lens on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, so if Apple does not have that lens, that would be a considerable downside. That is why we are not so sure about this rumor. It would just be too big of a compromise for Apple to make for such an expensive product, so let's see if other reports corroborate this in the future.
We will be updating you when we hear more about the camera details of the foldable iPhone.
Foldable iPhone storage
Again, knowing that it's still too early to predict, we have some early predictions that are by no means confirmed.
A premium foldable iPhone is likely to start at 256 GB of storage, and we have seen foldable phones from other brands also offer at least 256 GB of storage on their book-style foldables.
There is also one more reason — it is just very unlikely that a potential $2,000 iPhone Fold comes with 128 GB of storage in the base model.
While there are many leaks and rumors about the upcoming foldable iPhone design, there are no specifics about the expected battery size.
The best we can do here is take a look at the competition and chances are that the iPhone Fold will have a slightly smaller battery than the average, knowing how iPhones typically have smaller batteries than Android phones.
Foldable phone
Battery size
Foldable iPhone
Unknown
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
4,400 mAh
Oppo Find N5
5,600 mAh
Honor Magic V3
5,150 mAh
One report suggests that the foldable iPhone will use next-gen level battery technology, supposedly silicon-carbon, same as on the super-thin iPhone 17 Air model that is expected to arrive in late 2025.
Foldable iPhone features and software
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to run on iOS, but it may also get some iPad OS features given the larger screen size and the multitasking you can do a big screen.
We have seen many great improvements to multitasking on a foldable phone from Android makers, so Apple can draw inspiration from there. A two finger slicing gesture in the middle of the screen opens a split-screen on Oppo phones, which is very intuitive. You also can have three apps with the Canvas style multitasking and easily have your main app take up most of your screen with the "Open Canvas" feature.
We are yet to see if Apple implements something similar on the iPhone Fold, but we'd love to see that.
Foldable iPhone hardware
It would be extremely interesting to see what kind of processor Apple uses for its first foldable iPhone.
Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is that Apple will just put the latest A Pro series chip, same one as it uses on the iPhone Pro and Pro Max.
But can we actually have a foldable iPhone with an M series chip, the same award-winning chip Apple uses on its laptops?
That is one question that is unanswered yet, but also very interesting.
Should I wait for the foldable iPhone?
You should wait for the foldable iPhone if you're not happy with the current foldable phone design and form factors. You should also wait if you love iOS and want to have that experience rather than Android on a foldable phone.
You should not wait for the foldable iPhone ifyou think current foldable phones are already quite good and you don't mind or love the form factor. The iPhone will be slightly different, which you may not be good, if you already like the current form factors.
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Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.
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