Apple's Foldable iPhone: release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades
Concept of a foldable iPhone. | Image by AppleInsider
Apple's foldable iPhone: what to expect
Rumored upgrades:
- First foldable iPhone
- Book-style design: 7.8-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external display
- Dual rear camera setup
- 12 GB of RAM, up to 1 TB of storage
- 5,000–5,500 mAh battery
- iOS 27, optimized for foldables
- Apple may not have been able to completely eliminate the crease as it initially wanted
- The first foldable iPhone is expected to come in late 2026
- It could accompany the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro in a fall 2026 release (potentially September)
Expected price:
- The foldable iPhone is expected to start at around $2,399.
- Some reports suggest even more aggressive pricing.
Jump to:
Foldable iPhone release date
Apple is working on releasing its first foldable iPhone in 2026, possibly alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series.
Here's a table that shows how late to the foldable game Apple actually is:
| Foldable | Release date |
|---|---|
| Foldable iPhone (iPhone Fold) | Expected to arrive in 2026 |
| Samsung Galaxy Fold | February 2019 |
| Huawei Mate X2 | February 2021 |
| Honor Magic V | January 2022 |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold | March 2021 |
| Oppo Find N | December 2021 |
| Vivo X Fold | April 2022 |
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.
One thing is (almost) certain: Apple is reportedly planning annual releases for its foldable device, aiming for top-tier hardware and a nearly invisible crease.
According to the well-known industry insider Ming-Chi Kuo, 3 to 5 million iPhone Fold phones are expected to ship in 2026 and 20 million (plus the second-generation iPhone Fold) in 2027.
Per late 2025 reports, Apple has moved the iPhone Fold into the engineering verification and pre-production (EVT) stage. This comes after prototypes of the device were created. EVT testing produces units that function like the final phone and closely resemble the intended design. Apple is believed to be preparing around 100 iPhone Fold units for this phase. These units allow hardware engineers to verify that the components work correctly, the design is electronically sound, and the device can be reliably manufactured at scale.
Now, a new report indicates that the foldable iPhone's pre-production stages are perfectly on time for a fall release. The display for the foldable iPhone is now expected to enter the mass production stage in July. The timeframe would match the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro mass production stage, so it's getting even more likely we'll be seeing this phone in September.
Foldable iPhone price
The latest rumors on the topic of the iPhone Fold's price speak of $2,399, which is definitely extra-premium. Some insiders expect Apple to launch at around the $2,000 price tag. Newer reports also corroborate the expectation of a Galaxy Z Fold 8-ish pricing.
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| iPhone Fold | $2,200-$2,400* |
| Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 | $1,999 |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold | $1,799 |
* - expected
New reports indicate that Apple may take a conservative approach with the pricing of its first foldable. This basically means it won't be as expensive as was believed initially, but instead, will remain competitive with the likes of Samsung's Z Fold series. Reports also indicate that to keep the price down, Apple may have not been able to completely eliminate the crease of the display (but more on the display, later).
Reportedly, the foldable iPhone will come with a Bill of Materials estimated at $759 – slightly less than Samsung's costs. Per early reports, Samsung Display will supply most of the 7-inch OLED panels, with LG Display joining later, while Foxconn will serve as the primary assembler.
Many believe Apple's entry could accelerate foldable adoption across multiple device categories, benefiting from a mature supply chain and refined technology to deliver a more advanced product at a competitive cost.
Many believe Apple's entry could accelerate foldable adoption across multiple device categories, benefiting from a mature supply chain and refined technology to deliver a more advanced product at a competitive cost.
Of course, take this with a grain of salt, as nothing is official yet.
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 be partially similar to the first-generation Pixel Fold.
Unlike Google's foldable, the iPhone Fold is anticipated to have a more modern design. Apple might aim to avoid some of the things that Pixel fans have complained about, such as outdated design and excessive weight.
Some anticipate Apple's first foldable iPhone to feature a 7.8-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external display, smaller than the Galaxy Z Fold 7's massive 8-inch main and 6.5-inch cover screens. Even the older Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the OnePlus Open would offer larger displays in both areas.
Recent renders of what the foldable iPhone may potentially look like were shared by reputable tipster IceUniverse:
Render of the foldable iPhone. | Image by IceUniverse
While this could put Apple at a disadvantage when it comes to screen size, the device may stand out in other ways, with rumored strengths including better battery life, improved durability, and a crease-free display design.
Another render of the foldable iPhone. | Image by IceUniverse
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 10 Pro Fold | 10.8 mm | 5.2 mm |
* - expected.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its 8.9 mm (folded) and 4.2 mm (unfolded) numbers could outdo it on paper, but in real life, Apple's foldable will surely feel thin and elegant.
Foldable iPhone display
These are the expected numbers:
- 7.8-inch inner display
- 5.5-inch outer display
The internal screen is produced by Samsung, but as reports point out, Apple is responsible for the panel structure, material processing, and laminated pressing method.
Recently, reports on the foldable iPhone have consistently pointed to Apple postponing its launch to eliminate the center crease entirely. The company reportedly sees removing the crease as the key feature that would set its device apart from every other foldable phone available.
This will be thanks to a new hinge that could be cheaper to produce than previously suggested.
In early 2025, the company has allegedly 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).
Unfortunately, though, according to newer reports, Apple may not have been able to eliminate the crease of the device. A new report giving us details about the foldable iPhone's display claims that despite the display and hinge of the phone being some of the most advanced in the industry, there may still be some crease left.
The report claims that the first foldable iPhone may have a crease, although minimal. The crease is said to be below 0.15 mm, and the crease angle is said to be less than 2.5 degrees.
For reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 7's crease depth is around 0.7 mm or less, but not lower than the rumored one for the iPhone. The crease angle on the Fold is said to be around 3-4 degrees, although it's difficult to confirm.
Obviously, the foldable iPhone may still have a less visible crease than the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The bad news is that, after all, it will likely still have a crease, even though this display perfectionism was the reason why Apple was late to the foldable game to begin with.
Foldable iPhone camera
Considering that this shapes up as a premium product from Apple, we expect a powerful camera system on board.
But a 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 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.
Under-display selfie camera?
Numerous reports mentioned the foldable iPhone sporting an under-display selfie camera on the inner display. For context, Samsung's Galaxy Fold series has also been using an "invisible" under-display selfie camera ever since the Fold 4 but ditched that with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
If confirmed, this would mark the first iPhone to feature an under-display camera. This technology allows for a seamless main screen without any visible camera holes or notches. However, the trade-off is that the camera's image quality tends to be lower than that of conventional front-facing cameras.
There will reportedly be another front camera on the outer screen, and that one could be a traditional one, so if users want the maximum quality for selfies and video calls, they could use that camera.
The good news is that a 24 MP is rumored to be utilized in the UDC (under-display camera).
Foldable iPhone storage
The premium-made 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 $2,399 iPhone Fold comes with 128 GB of storage in the base model.
iPhone Fold potential configurations / storage options:
- 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage
- 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage
- 12 GB RAM + 1 TB storage
Foldable iPhone battery
Details about the foldable iPhone's battery capacity have emerged, suggesting it may have a battery capacity between 5,000 mAh and 5,500 mAh.
Apple is most likely prioritizing energy efficiency, including the use of more power-efficient display components, to extend battery life instead of simply increasing the battery size.
This is actually wonderful, given that iPhones typically have smaller batteries than Android phones:
| Foldable phone | Battery size |
|---|---|
| iPhone Fold | 5,000—5,500 mAh* |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 | ~4,400 mAh |
| Oppo Find N5 | 5,600 mAh |
| Honor Magic V5 | 6,100 mAh |
* - expected
That's a clear win over the Z Fold 7, so maybe Samsung will up the mAh numbers for the Galaxy Z Fold 8?
Foldable iPhone features and software
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone is expected to run iOS 27, which will be tailored for foldable hardware. The software is likely to offer smoother transitions between folded and unfolded modes, improved multitasking, and apps that adapt more effectively to varying screen sizes.
These refinements should make the foldable experience feel natural and integrated within iOS, addressing common challenges seen in existing foldable devices. iOS 27 is also anticipated to introduce a refreshed user interface designed to take full advantage of larger, flexible displays, ensuring the device performs reliably in all configurations.
AI devices are increasingly focusing on multimodal functionality and cross-app integration. That being said, larger screens can enhance these experiences, allowing users to, for example, chat with a travel-planning chatbot while simultaneously viewing a full map app.
Foldable iPhone hardware and specs
Foldable iPhone's specs:
- CPU: Apple's A20 Pro (2nm)
- RAM: 12 GB
- Battery: 5,000 - 5,500 mAh
- Charging: unknown
- Storage: 256, 512 GB, potentially 1TB
- Camera setup: 48 MP main, 48 MP ultra-wide
The iPhone Fold is rumored to run on Apple's A20 Pro chipset, built on a 2 nm process, promising up to 15% faster speeds and 30% better power efficiency compared to the A19. Battery capacity is projected to be between 5,000 and 5,500 mAh, supported by optimized iOS power management.
The upcoming A20 Pro chip could be one of the first built on a 2nm process, promising major improvements in speed and power efficiency that should give the foldable iPhone strong performance. The company is also expected to adopt new WMCM packaging technology, allowing RAM to be integrated directly with the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine for even faster processing.
Additionally, the device may bring back side-mounted Touch ID for biometric authentication, offering an alternative to Face ID that could be better suited for the foldable form factor. Multiple rumors have corroborated this information already.
Durability remains a critical concern for foldable phones, especially at premium price points. Analyst Jeff Pu expects the foldable iPhone to feature a hybrid frame made of titanium and aluminum, contrasting earlier reports that suggested a stainless steel and titanium hinge with a full titanium casing. Bloomberg previously described the design as resembling two titanium iPhone Air models joined side by side, adding to speculation about Apple's final material choice.
Foldable iPhone preliminary comparisons
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Apple iPhone Fold: Here's how the upcoming foldable iPhone is going to compare to its main rival, Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Should I wait for the iPhone Fold?
- You should wait for the iPhone Fold 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 iPhone Fold ifyou think current foldable phones are already good. The iPhone will be slightly different, which you may not like if you already like the current form factors. Also, if you don't want a foldable phone.
Latest rumors about the foldable iPhone
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