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A Bold New Chapter for the iPhone
After years of speculation, Apple is finally preparing to enter the foldable smartphone race. According to trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Cupertino giant is targeting a 2026 release for its first foldable iPhone. With foldable tech maturing and competitors like Samsung, Huawei, and Motorola already multiple generations deep, Apple’s cautious but calculated approach is about to unfold—literally.
The device is expected to begin production between Q3 and Q4 of 2025, with Foxconn handling assembly. While many component specs remain under development, Apple is focused on a polished, crease-free design, cutting-edge materials like titanium, and a foldable display that rivals—and potentially exceeds—existing industry benchmarks. Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming and why it matters.
Foldable iPhone: the Key Details
Apple is planning to release its first foldable iPhone in 2026, with mass production expected to begin in late Q3 or early Q4 of 2025, as per analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The device will feature a book-style design, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold series, rather than the clamshell design seen in the Z Flip.
Key specs include a 7.8-inch internal display and a 5.5-inch external display. The main display is expected to be crease-free, marking a significant technical achievement. Kuo reports that Samsung Display (SDC) will manufacture the panels, with a production capacity aimed at 7–8 million units annually. However, because production in 2026 will only cover a few months, actual shipments that year may fall short.
The chassis will reportedly be made of titanium alloy, giving the device a durable yet lightweight profile. The folded thickness will range from 9 to 9.5mm, while the unfolded device could be thinner than 5mm. Notably, due to space constraints, the foldable iPhone may feature Touch ID on the side rather than Face ID.
Apple’s initial shipment target is between 3 to 5 million units in 2026, but the company has placed total orders for 15–20 million units, indicating a multi-year sales strategy. Kuo estimates that most units will ship in 2027 and 2028, suggesting a slow ramp-up typical of premium Apple releases.
As for the price? Reports suggest a premium cost ranging between \$2,000 and \$2,500, positioning this iPhone as a high-end flagship targeted at early adopters and luxury buyers.
What Undercode Say:
Apple’s deliberate approach to entering the foldable market isn’t just about technical refinement—it’s about timing the trend.
Rather than rushing into foldables alongside competitors in the early 2020s, Apple has waited until the technology matured. The early years of foldables were plagued by durability issues, short battery life, and visible screen creases—none of which would be acceptable for an Apple-grade product. Now, with Samsung and others ironing out the rough edges, Apple is preparing to leapfrog them with a device that blends aesthetics, engineering, and practicality.
What’s interesting is Apple’s choice to avoid a clamshell form factor and opt for a book-style layout. This reinforces the idea that the device is less about compact portability and more about productivity and immersive experience—likely appealing to creative professionals, enterprise users, and Apple ecosystem power users.
The crease-free display claim is bold. This suggests Apple may be using a next-generation UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) or an entirely new proprietary layer. If successful, this could set a new standard for foldables and significantly boost confidence in the format.
The side-mounted Touch ID is a subtle but revealing choice. Apple seems to be prioritizing thinness and internal space optimization over adding Face ID, which typically requires a bulky TrueDepth camera module. A fingerprint sensor on the side would make the device thinner and more ergonomic when folded.
Price-wise, the \$2,000–\$2,500 range will be a hurdle, but not a dealbreaker. Apple users are known to pay a premium for cutting-edge innovation. The foldable iPhone could fill the gap left by the iPad Mini or even threaten traditional tablet usage.
From a market perspective, Apple will likely use this launch to test high-end demand before making foldables more mainstream. Just as the original iPhone was expensive and niche in 2007, the foldable iPhone may set the tone for the next decade of Apple’s hardware design.
For competitors, this is a warning shot. Apple entering a category tends to validate it—and push lagging brands to either innovate harder or exit. By 2026, we could see a new wave of foldable arms races, with Microsoft, Google, and Samsung vying for second place in a redefined segment.
🔍 Fact Checker Results:
✅ Ming-Chi Kuo is a reputable source with a strong track record on Apple hardware predictions.
✅ Samsung Display is the confirmed panel supplier for Apple’s foldable.
❌ Face ID inclusion is unlikely in this foldable model due to internal space constraints.
📊 Prediction:
If Apple’s foldable iPhone succeeds in addressing the major user pain points—durability, display quality, and software adaptation—it could redefine what a phone-tablet hybrid can be. Expect the foldable to be deeply integrated with iPadOS-style multitasking and even Apple Pencil compatibility in future iterations. By 2028, foldables could account for 10–15% of Apple’s iPhone revenue, particularly as the hardware cycle slows and users seek radically new form factors.
References:
Reported By: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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