Rumors about a foldable iPhone have been circulating for years, but for a long time the topic remained in the realm of speculation. That's changing now. Reliable analysts, leakers, and supply chain sources are providing increasingly concrete details that paint a coherent overall picture: Apple is working on the iPhone Fold, and the market launch could take place as early as fall 2026. We've summarized below what is currently known about the device, what it's expected to look like, how much it will cost, and when it will be released.
Foldable smartphones have been around for several years. Samsung, Huawei, and other manufacturers have established the form factor, with varying degrees of success. Apple has so far watched from the sidelines. This isn't a sign of backwardness, but rather reflects typical Apple strategy: wait until the technology is mature enough, and then enter the market with a product that redefines the category.
That's precisely what makes the iPhone Fold so interesting. Apple isn't entering the market as a pioneer, but as a perfectionist. Current reports suggest that Apple intends to address some of the biggest weaknesses of foldable smartphones, including the visible crease in the display, the hinge's durability, and battery life. Whether they succeed remains to be seen. The technical details known so far certainly sound promising.
Overall design: book format, not clamshell
Form factor and dimensions
The iPhone Fold is expected to function like a book, with a large inner screen that unfolds like a book. This has been confirmed by Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, considered one of the most reliable sources for Apple inside information. This makes the device similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and fundamentally different from the compact clamshell design of the Galaxy Z Flip.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has provided specific figures regarding the dimensions. When folded, the device is expected to be between 9 and 9.5 mm thick, and only 4.5 to 4.8 mm thick when unfolded. Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital recently specified that the minimum thickness when unfolded will be 4.8 mm.
Button layout and camera cutout
The iPhone Fold's button placement differs from current iPhone models. According to Instant Digital, the volume buttons will be located on the top right of the device, similar to the iPad mini. The power button and camera controls, however, will remain on the right side, as with other current iPhones. A camera cutout, similar to the iPhone Air, is also expected on the left side of the device's back.
Display: Two screens for two usage modes
Outdoor and indoor screen
The iPhone Fold will feature two displays that operate depending on the usage situation. When folded, a 5.5-inch external screen is available, similar to a classic iPhone display and designed to easily handle everyday tasks. When unfolded, a large 7.8-inch inner screen, similar to an iPad, opens. Both specifications have been confirmed by two reputable, independent sources.
A more recent report from The Information cites slightly different dimensions: according to this report, the front screen measures 5.3 inches and the internal display 7.7 inches. It is currently impossible to definitively determine which figures are correct.
Resolution and screen protection
Rumors suggest the inner display will be roughly the size of an A6 sheet of paper and have a resolution of 2,713 × 1,920 pixels. The outer display is expected to have a resolution of 2,088 × 1,422 pixels. Apple is said to be using an improved film technology for the display protection: a transparent polyimide film will be applied as a protective layer to ultra-thin glass, making the display more durable than previous foldable devices.
Visibility of wrinkles: Apple's technical trick
Metal plate and liquid metal
The visible crease in the middle of the inner screen is one of the most persistent problems with foldable smartphones. According to the Chinese website UDN, Apple has solved this problem. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the solution consists of two components: First, a metal plate is used to distribute and control the stress created when the screen is bent. Second, Apple uses liquid metal in the hinge, which is manufactured using a die-casting process and is intended to both improve durability and prevent screen creases.
If this information is accurate, the iPhone Fold would be the first truly wrinkle-free foldable smartphone on the market. UDN, citing supply chain sources, reports that Apple has indeed solved this problem. This would give it a significant competitive advantage over its Android rivals.
Housing and hinge: Durable materials
Titanium, stainless steel or aluminum?
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the casing will be made of titanium, while the hinge will consist of a combination of titanium and stainless steel. The frame itself will be made of a titanium alloy to prevent deformation, a solution Apple has already used in the ultra-thin iPhone Air.
Analyst Jeff Pu has a slightly different view, assuming that Apple will combine aluminum and titanium, while Kuo favors a mix of stainless steel and titanium. The exact material combination that will ultimately be used is therefore not yet definitively settled among analysts.
Cameras: Four lenses, thoughtfully placed
Rear cameras and interior camera
The iPhone Fold is expected to have a total of four cameras, as recently confirmed by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. On the back, there will be two lenses, each with a 48-megapixel resolution, according to Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station. Additionally, there will be a front-facing camera on the outer screen and an under-screen camera (USC) beneath the inner screen.
Front camera placement
The front-facing camera of the outer screen is expected to be a punch-hole camera. According to a report by The Information, it will be located in the upper left corner of the outer screen. This arrangement allows for taking photos and making calls in both states of the device without a camera interrupting the valuable inner display.
iPhone Fold authentication: Touch ID instead of Face ID
Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
One of the most surprising design decisions concerns the unlocking method. Both Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman have confirmed that the iPhone Fold will forgo Face ID. Instead, it will use a side-mounted Touch ID button, a method Apple already employs in the iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini. The reason is purely practical: space is extremely limited in the compact interior of a foldable device, and the sensors required for Face ID would take up too much of it.
Mobile communications: Apple's second-generation modem
C2 modem without physical SIM
According to Mark Gurman, the iPhone Fold uses Apple's second-generation C2 modem for its cellular connection. Apple first used the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, followed by the C1X in the iPhone Air. The C2 is said to be faster overall and will be the first iPhone to support mmWave in the US. Gurman also stated that the device will not have a physical SIM card slot; it will rely exclusively on eSIM.
Battery life: A record for an iPhone
High-density cells and slim components
The iPhone Fold is expected to have the largest battery ever installed in an iPhone. Apple is achieving this not only through high-density battery cells but also by slimming down internal components. According to a Korean blog that has leaked precise details about unreleased products in the past, the display driver, for example, will be made more compact to create more space for battery cells. Combined with the energy-efficient C2 modem and other efficiency improvements, this promises solid battery life on paper.
Color options: For now, only black and white
Limited selection at launch
According to Mark Gurman, Apple is currently testing only black and white as color options with suppliers. However, Gurman explicitly points out that these plans could change before launch. Those hoping for vibrant colors should therefore wait. Whether Apple will offer further options at launch is currently unknown.
Price: The most expensive iPhone ever
Price estimates range between $1,800 and $2,500
The iPhone Fold will not be a cheap device. Several reports suggest that the starting price in the US will be between $2,000 and $2,500. Analysts at the investment bank UBS and Fubon Research estimate the price to be somewhat more moderate, between $1,800 and $2,000, while other forecasts place it at around $2,399.
Cheaper hinge, but lower selling price?
An interesting recent assessment by Kuo regarding the hinge is that it is expected to have an average selling price of around $70 to $80 in mass production, significantly below the original market expectations of $100 to $120 or more. Kuo attributes this cost reduction to the optimization of the assembly design and Foxconn's influence on production scaling. Whether Apple will pass these savings on to consumers in the form of a lower selling price or simply improve its own profit margins remains to be seen.
Regardless of the exact price, the foldable iPhone is expected to appeal to Apple's loyal fan base, many of whom will consider it a must-have device, provided the quality meets expectations.
Market launch: Autumn 2026, perhaps not until 2027
Production status and planned launch
The iPhone Fold entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn in March 2025, according to analyst Jeff Pu. The Chinese website UDN reported back in November that the device had reached the technical validation phase and that Apple was preparing for mass production. Foxconn is expected to officially begin actual production in October, and reports indicate that Apple is already stockpiling pre-production components.
Possible postponement to 2027
Both Kuo and Pu anticipate mass production will begin in the second half of 2026. Mark Gurman expects a market launch in autumn 2026. However, the Japanese bank Mizuho Securities warns of a possible delay to 2027, as Apple may need more time to finalize key design decisions regarding the hinge. Therefore, a precise launch date is not yet known.
The iPhone Fold: Apple's biggest gamble in years
On paper, the iPhone Fold is Apple's most ambitious device in years. It combines two displays, four cameras, the largest iPhone battery to date, Apple's latest modem, and a range of technical innovations designed to address the classic weaknesses of foldable smartphones. The price will be high, and so will the expectations.
Whether Apple achieves its self-imposed goals and redefines the foldable smartphone market will likely become clear in the fall of 2026. Until then, the iPhone Fold remains the most talked-about device in the industry, and every new detail generates buzz. Rightly so. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those compatible with HomeKit. (Image: FrontPageTech x Asherdipps)
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