We ’ve been report on the rumored “ coming soon ” launching of a foldable iPhone foryears . There have been unassailable and reliable rumor of a foldable iPhone being just two years away datingas far back as 2018 , at least . Back then , reliable reports from the likes of CNBC said Apple was going to have a folding iPhone on the food market in 2020 .
That became 2021 , 2022 , 2024 , 2025 … and now it ’s scheduled to land in 2026 at the early .
So , while the rumors and news report from part suppliers and psychoanalyst are heating up and seem to be more solid than ever , we would advise even more caution and skepticism than common with Apple rumors . Having said that , here ’s what the current rumors suggest about the release of a folding iPhone .
The folding iPhone could be a similar size to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Folding iPhone: Release date
According to a series of account , the major conception and eyeglasses of Apple ’s first folding phone are due to be settle in the middle of 2025 , with production direct for recent 2026 . That would meana launch late in 2026 or former 2027 . So far , this timeline has been suggested by several generator in 2024 and 2025 , including The Information , The Wall Street Journal , and analystsMing - Chi KuoandMark Gurman .
The phone is expected to be complex and expensive to manufacture , so production volume will probably be very modified at first . Asecond poser in late 2027should see high production Book of Numbers .
Folding iPhone: Design
In 2024,The Information reportedthat Apple had made a couple of prototype “ clamshell ” somersault - speech sound innovation , where the top and bottom of the phone plica to meet . More recent rumors in 2025 fromDigital Chat Station on Weiboand analystMing - Chi Kuosuggest a“book ” style fold , with a upright plication as the unexpended and right sides fold to meet each other . This is a standardised flair to theGoogle Pixel 9 Pro FoldandSamsung Galaxy Z Fold .
The hinge is expected to be one of its most unique features . Some composition have suggest it will be made of a titanium metal , while Kup report in March 2025 that Apple is exploring the use of LiquidMetal for “ strength , heighten cover flatness , and minimizing crease mark ” in the screen . Apple has receivedseveral patentsfor hinge designs , and it ’s unclear which the company will use in the concluding intent .
The folding iPhone could be a similar size to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold .
The folding iPhone could be a similar size to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Luke Baker
Folding iPhone: Size and dimensions
Analyst Ming - Chi Kuo has report on the folding iPhone’sset of proposed design item . He says the book - style iPhone will have a7.8 - inch inside displaywhen unfold , and a5.5 - inch verboten display . Kuo says Apple wo n’t be quenched until the telephone set ’s showing is completely crease - free when opened .
The folding phone is said to be at most9.5 mm thickset when folded and 4.5 mm when unfolded . For comparison , an iPhone 16 Pro Max is 8.5 millimeter thick , and the thinnest iPhone of all time was the iPhone 6 at 6.9 mm . The upcomingiPhone 17 Airis expected to be around 6 millimeter thick and possibly as slight as 5.5 mm .
Folding iPhone: Specs and features
We do n’t recognise what processor the folding iPhone will contain , but if it launches in 2026 as rumored , it will probably feature anA20 or A20 Pro — some variant of the mainframe find oneself in the iPhone 18 .
We expect most iPhones to useApple ’s own cellular modemandWi - Fi / Bluetooth chipsby that clock time as well . They may even be integrated into the main organization - on - chip shot .
The fold iPhone will reportedly have a Touch ID - enabled power button rather than Face ID .
The folding iPhone will reportedly have a Touch ID-enabled power button rather than Face ID.
IDG
Due to the very thin nature of the foldable iPhone , and the indigence for dissimilar front - facing cameras when folded up or unfold , it will reportedly lack Face ID . Instead , Touch IDwill be integrate into the side clitoris much as it is on the iPad Air and miniskirt .
There will reportedly betwo rearward cameras(likely a stock wide and ultrawide ) andtwo front - confront cameras , one for when the iPhone is folded closed and one for when it ’s undefended .
Folding iPhone: Price
Expect the fold iPhone to be a very high-pitched - end , radical - premium mannikin . The very first discharge issaid to cost$2,000 or moreand could start at $ 2,299 , twice the mellow - end iPhone Pro Max ..
