Image: Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
iPhone Foldable: Key Highlights
- Expected release in September 2026
- Designed as a book-style foldable
- Projected price of $1,999
In the evolving landscape of smartphones, brands like Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Motorola, and Honor have successfully marketed foldable devices. Notably, Apple remains the only prominent player yet to introduce a foldable model.
Speculation surrounding a foldable iPhone has intensified, now gaining credibility through insights from JPMorgan’s recent market note to investors.
Expected Release Date of the Foldable iPhone
Summary
- Anticipated launch in September 2026
- Likely to coincide with the iPhone 18 series launch
- A separate event for the launch is also a possibility
Having just released the iPhone 17 lineup, speculation about Apple’s forthcoming models is rife, particularly regarding a foldable device currently dubbed the iPhone Fold (subject to official confirmation).
According to Apple’s historical release patterns, the foldable iPhone could be showcased during the company’s annual September event, aligning with the unveiling of new handsets.
Recent iPhone launches exhibit a consistent timeline:
- iPhone 17: 9 September 2025
- iPhone 16: 9 September 2024
- iPhone 15: 12 September 2023
- iPhone 14: 7 September 2022
- iPhone 13: 14 September 2021
- iPhone 12: 13 October 2020 (delay due to COVID-19)
Following this trend, the iPhone 18 series is expected to be announced in 2026 around the same timeframe, with subsequent models anticipated for spring 2027.
Market analyst insight reveals that Samsung Display is gearing up to mass-produce 8.6th-generation OLED panels for foldable devices, with production expected to commence in the third quarter of next year.
Lee Cheong, President of Samsung Display, indicated prep work for supporting a North American client, speculating on the potential Apple partnership, as Samsung is a known supplier of OLED panels to Apple.
Image by: Jason Cross / Foundry
Sources: The Information | GSMArena | MacRumors | Ming-Chi Kuo | ChosunBiz
Cost of the Foldable iPhone
Cost Overview
- Currently speculative pricing
- Projected US price around $1,999
- International pricing details remain undisclosed
The estimated price is rumored to be around $1,999, positioning it at a similar price point as the Samsung Z Fold 7 in the U.S. market, where it starts at $1,999, and around £1,799 in the UK.
While no international pricing has been established yet, examining starting prices for the iPhone 16 lineup reveals a similar pricing strategy in the U.S. and the UK despite differing currency values:
- iPhone 16 (128GB) – £799/$799
- iPhone 16 Plus (128GB) – £899/$899
- iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) – £999/$999
- iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB) – £1,199/$1,199
This suggests the potential for a £1,999 price tag in the UK, pending tariff influences on final costs.
Image by: David Price / Foundry
Sources: Ming-Chi Kuo | Instant Digital | MacRumors
Foldable iPhone: Specs and Features
Design and Specifications Overview
- Book-style folding design
- 7.8-inch inner display
- Advanced LiquidMetal hinge
Currently, details surrounding the design of the expected iPhone Fold are limited. What is anticipated, however, is a book-style foldable design, codenamed V68.
This model is likely to bear similarities to the iPhone Air, envisioned as two connected iPhone Air devices, ensuring a larger screen experience.
Insiders believe that the iPhone Air was potentially used as a testing platform for innovations that would be incorporated into Apple’s first foldable device.
Image by: Apple
The initial release may offer limited color options, likely confined to black and white.
Speculations suggest the foldable iPhone could include an impressive five-camera setup: one on the front, one on the inner display, and two on the rear, catering to versatile photography whether the device is open or closed.
Apple appears determined to minimize the visibility of a crease on the display when the device is opened, aiming for a sleek experience.
Expected Specifications:
- Inward-folding, book-style format
- Crease visibility minimized
- Strong LiquidMetal hinge for durability
- 7.8-inch inner display size
- 5.5-inch outer display
- Titanium chassis for sturdiness
- Touch ID integration instead of Face ID
- No SIM card slot, similar to the Air model
- Dimensions: 9-9.5mm thick when closed, 4.5-4.8mm thick when open
Image by: Jim Martin / Foundry
Sources: Macworld | MacRumors | Revegnus on X | Ming-Chi Kuo | Macwelt | Mark Gurman | Mark Gurman (2)
This coverage represents the current understanding about the foldable iPhone, and updates will be provided as new information emerges.
For those not wishing to wait, check out our curated recommendations for the best smartphones of 2025.
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