The availability chain leaks about Apple’s foldable iPhone have been rising in frequency, and it might be solely a couple of yr away. Here is what the rumor mill believes is within the works.
Whereas 2025 might see the discharge of an ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim, the yr after could show to be much more fascinating. A number of sources and studies over time have mentioned that Apple was engaged on merchandise with foldable shows, the primary of which is anticipated to be a wholly new iPhone mannequin.
Although different smartphone producers, reminiscent of Samsung, have outright embraced the idea of foldable shows, with the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip, Apple has but to launch such a tool.
Nonetheless, rumors point out {that a} foldable iPhone, typically known as the iPhone Fold, is on the horizon. Individuals aware of the matter have advised AppleInsider that Apple and its provide chain companions have been researching the concept for years.
Leakers and analysts alike imagine Apple’s foldable iPhone is ready to debut inside the subsequent few years, they usually have quite a bit to say concerning the matter.
iPhone Fold launch date rumors — 2026 or 2027?
Apple hasn’t specified precisely when the iPhone Fold will launch, and that is hardly a shock given the corporate’s product announcement methods. Nonetheless, this hasn’t stopped leakers from offering their very own iPhone fold launch timelines.
Analysts imagine the iPhone Fold will debut in 2026 or 2027.
In November 2020, one rumor recommended that Apple provider Foxconn was actively testing foldable iPhone prototypes, and that the system was set to launch in September 2022.
Equally, in September 2021, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned that Apple’s foldable iPhone would debut by 2024. Whereas these dates have clearly come and gone, and the iPhone Fold has but to launch, newer predictions proceed to counsel the system is years away.
Studies from February and March 2024 recommended that Apple had initially deliberate a 2026 launch, however that the mission was delayed till 2027. Rumors from June 2024 echoed the 2027 launch date for the iPhone Fold. A February 2025 report indicated that manufacturing might begin in early 2026, which might, once more, align with the proposed 2027 launch.
Not everybody agrees, nonetheless, as a distinct report from the identical month recommended that Apple’s foldable iPhone would debut in 2026, somewhat than 2027. The report claimed that Apple would begin manufacturing in late 2025, with a launch deliberate for the second half of 2026.
Although his earlier claims a couple of 2024 iPhone Fold launch have been flawed, Ming-Chi Kuo resurfaced in March 2025, saying that Apple’s foldable iPhone would debut in late 2026 or early 2027, with mass manufacturing beginning within the fourth quarter of 2026.
Apple is predicted to ship between three million and 5 million models of the iPhone fold in 2026, with manufacturing quantity constrained by the complexity of producing the system. Kuo predicts that between the primary and the rumored second-generation iPhone Fold, Apple might promote 20 million in 2027.
In August 2024, analyst Jeff Pu claimed the iPhone Fold would debut alongside a foldable iPad in 2026. He reiterated these claims in March 2025 and a month later, in April 2025. Two separate studies from March 2025 and Might 2025 have additionally proposed a 2026 launch date for Apple’s foldable iPhone, with the latter report specifying that the system would debut in September 2026.
It stays to be seen precisely when the system will debut, however the general consensus amongst leakers and analysts is that Apple’s foldable iPhone will launch both in 2026 or 2027. Its foldable show is ready to mark a major departure from earlier iPhone fashions, nonetheless.
iPhone Fold show provider
Relative to the iPhone fashions at present obtainable, Apple’s foldable smartphone would provide extra display actual property for apps and video games. With the show unfolded, the system could also be just like an iPad mini when it comes to display dimension. That is set to be the primary promoting level of the iPhone Fold, however Apple probably needed to overcome engineering challenges to attain a foldable show that is as much as the corporate’s excessive requirements.
Samsung is probably going the unique show provider for the iPhone Fold.
In April 2022, rumors recommended that Apple was working with LG Show on a foldable MacBook or iPad display, and solely a month later, studies a couple of foldable iPhone show started popping up.
In September 2022, one report recommended that Apple was working with LG Show and Samsung, in an try to develop shows that will not crumple. This supposedly concerned creating hybrid OLED panels that mix the rigid sections of glass with versatile plastic substrate panels for the bending elements.
Apple was reportedly nonetheless deciding on a show provider as of January 2025. Solely a month later, nonetheless, one leaker recommended that the iPhone Fold show can be developed completely by Samsung, contradicting prior LG Show rumors, a few of which date again to 2017.
It seems as if Samsung will certainly produce the iPhone Fold show, as the corporate probably has an edge due to its expertise with its personal foldable merchandise. Studies from April 2025 and Might 2025 have each mentioned that Apple has chosen Samsung as its show companion.
This info aligns with a December 2023 rumor, which mentioned folding iPhone shows have been the main target of a then-new Samsung enterprise group.
Show dimensions and backbone
The iPhone Fold is anticipated to have two screens, with a smaller outer show for common use and a folding inside one which’s a lot bigger. It seems as if the rumor mill has agreed on among the important specs of these elements.
Apple’s foldable iPhone could have a well-recognized 4:3 side ratio.
In February 2025, one leaker mentioned the show for the iPhone Fold could possibly be “comparable to 2 6.1-inch iPhones folded collectively, leading to a complete dimension of over 12 inches.” The arithmetic of that supposed measurement is considerably flawed, as it will realistically be a display dimension within the ballpark of seven.5 inches, which has similarities to the 8.3-inch iPad mini.
The identical month, a distinct rumor mentioned that Apple’s foldable iPhone would have a 5.49-inch outer display to permit it to work like a standard smartphone. The interior display, to make it look extra like an iPad, reportedly measures a considerably practical 7.74 inches diagonally.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo echoed these claims, saying in March 2025 that the “folded-out interior display” can be 7.8 inches, whereas the outer display can be 5.5 inches. Two April 2025 rumors additionally supplied related dimensions.
Each leakers recommended that the interior show can have a decision of two,713 by 1,920. This might give the show a pixel density of 428 pixels per inch. In line with the identical supply, the external-facing show will measure 5.49 inches and have a decision of two,088 by 1,422. This can be a pixel density of 460ppi, matching that of Apple’s typical iPhone shows.
The interior show will supposedly use a hidden under-display digicam that shall be just like different foldable system screens, whereas the exterior show will depend on a visual punch gap digicam. As for the show’s side ratio, a March 2025 rumor signifies the iPhone Fold will use a well-recognized 4:3 format, very similar to older iPad fashions.
Show creases, sturdiness, hinge mechanisms
Sturdiness is a significant concern on the subject of merchandise with foldable shows. Whereas there are quite a few potential methods Apple might method a folding iPhone, the corporate would all the time must ensure that its display can face up to repeated folding over extended durations.
The iPhone Fold would possibly characteristic a liquid metallic hinge mechanism that is twice as sturdy as titanium.
The method of folding and unfolding may cause put on on a show, particularly in an space the place the fold can develop right into a crease, which may ultimately deteriorate. Apple, like different folding cellphone firms, has to design the iPhone Fold to counter this weak point.
An Apple patent from October 2021 launched the idea of a folding iPhone that places the show on the surface, as an alternative of the display being on the within of the fold.
That is a technique of getting across the difficulty, because the display does not must take care of the usually tight radius of an inside fold, and as an alternative has to take care of being completely uncovered to the weather. However Apple could have a possible resolution for that as effectively.
Apple’s patents reveal that the corporate has been contemplating a foldable iPhones since 2015. One such patent, from 2020, signifies that Apple could implement expertise so iPhone shows themselves might “heal” the inevitable put on and tear.
“Digital Units With Versatile Show Cowl Layers,” proposes mixing inflexible and versatile areas for a show, after which additionally using what Apple calls “self-healing.” This could possibly be associated to the scratch-resistant show coating rumored for the iPhone 17 vary, although this was reportedly deserted.
Apple’s patents counsel the corporate experimented with numerous show options for the iPhone Fold.
Apple has additionally thought-about inside display fold designs too, however with remarkably difficult hinge mechanisms. The concept was for there to be added helps for the show at its most susceptible level, in order that customers might press down on versatile sections with out damaging the display.
The iPhone maker’s patents have proposed the concept of utilizing stretchable shows as effectively. Nevertheless, it appears unlikely for Apple to go down that route for the iPhone Fold for the second. A February 2025 report mentioned that Apple’s folding iPhone is probably not affected by a crease in any respect. A supply doubled down on claims Apple was working arduous to keep away from wrinkles within the show, which may emerge over time.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned in March 2025 that Apple would use a liquid-metal hinge for the iPhone fold show. The identical month, a distinct leaker defined that the fabric could possibly be twice as sturdy as titanium. Liquid metallic expertise has additionally appeared in Apple patents from 2014 and 2015.
In March 2025, two separate leakers mentioned that iPhone Fold show engineering efforts focsed on energy effectivity. Supposedly, this may “obtain the aim of slimming the battery by bettering the Show Driver Built-in Circuit (DDI).” One of many leakers believes that the motive force IC chips within the folding show are being upgraded, from utilizing a 28-nanometer manufacturing course of to a 16-nanometer model.
Improved battery life stands out as the finish results of these efforts. We might additionally see versatile batteries within the iPhone Fold, as an Apple patent from 2020 references this expertise.
iPhone Fold battery, design, pricing
In the case of the bodily dimension of the show, 5.49 inches is loads smaller than the 6.1-inch smallest iPhone 16. To get smaller in a flagship system, you need to return to the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini.
As for the the system itself, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed in March 2025 that the iPhone Fold would have a folded thickness roughly 9mm to 9.5mm. When opened, its thickness can be roughly 4.5mm to 4.8mm.
A doubtful leak from February 2025 had a stab on the specs. The listing seemingly included a 5000mAh “3D Stacked” battery cell system, a brand new ultra-thin Meta Lens entrance digicam, and rear Major and Extremely-Broad cameras. Kuo additionally mentioned the system would have two rear cameras, and one entrance digicam when the iPhone is unfolded.
When it comes to pricing, the iPhone fold might finally value round $2300, which is greater than a Mac Studio. That is in line with an analyst report from March 2025, although Ming-Chi Kuo has additionally supplied a value estimate between $2,000 and $2,500. A 3rd leaker claimed in April 2025 that the value might find yourself being between $2,100 and $2,300.
In the end, the iPhone Fold is at the very least a yr away, and a few are understandably skeptical concerning the market efficiency and potential of the system. Nonetheless, fairly just a few analysts and leakers imagine its within the works, there are even claims of a successor product. We’ll see quickly sufficient exaclty what Apple’s first foldable seems to be like, assuming it does not get canceled like just a few different firm initiatives.
