iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Apple is expected to motorboat a caller foldable iPhone adjacent year, based connected aggregate rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited instrumentality has been rumored for years now, but signs progressively suggest that 2026 could so beryllium the twelvemonth that Apple releases its archetypal foldable device.


Below, we've collated an updated acceptable of cardinal details that person been leaked astir Apple's foldable iPhone truthful far.

Overall Design

Book-Style

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's foldable iPhone is akin successful benignant to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold, which uses a book-style folding mechanism, alternatively than the clamshell plan of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. Industry expert Ming-Chi Kuo expects the foldable ‌iPhone‌ to measurement betwixt 9 and 9.5 mm erstwhile folded, and astir 4.5 to 4.8 mm erstwhile unfolded. More recently, Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital has said that the foldable iPhone volition person a thickness of at slightest 4.8mm.

Display Sizes

Dual Screens

When folded, users volition interact with a 5.5-inch outer show that is akin to a emblematic iPhone screen, portion unfolding it volition uncover a larger 7.8-inch iPad-style screen. The interior show is said to beryllium virtually crease-free, acknowledgment to Apple's usage of a metal plate that tin disperse and power the accent generated by bending the display. These dimensions person been corroborated by two reputable sources. According to 1 rumor, the interior folding show volition beryllium astir the size of a portion of A6 insubstantial and volition usage a 2,713 x 1,920 resolution, portion the outer show volition usage a 2,088 x 1,422 resolution.

Chassis and Hinge

Durable Materials

The foldable iPhone reportedly has a titanium chassis, with the hinge constructed from a operation of titanium and stainless steel, according to Kuo. Apple is said to beryllium utilizing liquid metallic successful the hinges to amended durability and assistance destruct surface creasing. Liquid metal, manufactured utilizing a die-casting process, has been chosen by Apple to code these 2 communal issues with foldable devices, according to the analyst. The framework itself volition usage a titanium alloy to forestall bending issues – a solution that has worked good for Apple's caller ultra-thin iPhone Air. However, expert Jeff Pu believes that Apple is utilizing aluminum and titanium, whereas Kuo believes a premix of stainless alloy and titanium has been chosen.

Cameras

Front and Rear

The foldable iPhone is expected to see a dual-lens rear camera, with a front-facing camera for some folded and unfolded states, according to Kuo. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman precocious corroborated reports that the instrumentality volition person 4 cameras consisting of 1 beforehand camera, 1 interior camera, and 2 rear cameras. Prolific Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station claims that the rear dual lenses volition beryllium 48 megapixels each. Other sources person claimed that the interior show features an under-screen camera (USC), portion the outer show – in the device's folded authorities – volition person a punch-hole camera.

Authentication

Touch ID

Kuo believes the telephone volition forgo Face ID authentication, and alternatively usage a Touch ID broadside fastener arsenic a means to prevention precious interior space, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman precocious corroborated the rumor. Apple has antecedently integrated Touch ID into the broadside fastener of the iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini.

Cellular Connectivity

C2 Modem

The foldable iPhone volition usage Apple's second-generation C2 modem for cellular connectivity, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple debuted its custom-designed C1 modem successful the iPhone 16e earlier this year, followed by the C1X featured successful the iPhone Air, arsenic portion of a multi-year program to modulation distant from Qualcomm modems. Gurman says the foldable instrumentality volition not person a carnal SIM slot.

Battery Life

High-Density Cells

Apple is putting a dense absorption connected improving powerfulness ratio by slimming down cardinal components similar the show operator to marque country for much artillery cells, according to a Korean blog that has leaked close details astir unreleased products before. The telephone volition reportedly usage high-density artillery cells. Expect the C2 modem to beryllium faster overall, and for it to summation mmWave enactment successful the United States. Further powerfulness ratio improvements are apt too.

Color Options

Black and White

Apple is presently lone investigating variations of achromatic and achromatic for the folding telephone with suppliers, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, though helium says that Apple's plans could germinate earlier the instrumentality launches.

Pricing

Premium Segment

Multiple reports person suggested the foldable iPhone volition beryllium priced betwixt $2,000 and $2,500 successful the United States, which could marque it the astir costly iPhone ever. Meanwhile, analysts astatine concern banking steadfast UBS judge the telephone volition beryllium betwixt $1,800 and $2,000. However, Kuo precocious claimed that the hinge is expected to transportation an mean selling terms (ASP) of astir $70 to $80 erstwhile wide accumulation begins – good beneath the marketplace anticipation of $100 to $120 oregon higher. Kuo attributed the outgo diminution to "assembly plan optimization" and Foxconn's power successful accumulation scaling. Whether the simplification successful hinge terms volition trim retail terms oregon simply bolster Apple's margins is an unfastened question. Regardless of the price, the foldable is expected to pat into Apple's loyal fanbase, immoderate of whom volition presumption it arsenic a "must-have device" if its prime meets expectations.

Launch Date

Late 2026

According to manufacture expert Jeff Pu, the instrumentality entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase astatine Foxconn successful March. Foxconn is expected to officially commencement producing Apple's foldable iPhone aboriginal successful the 4th fourth (October), and a caller study has suggested Apple is already stockpiling components for pre-production. An nonstop motorboat day is presently unknown, but some Kuo and Pu accidental wide accumulation is planned for the 2nd fractional of 2026. Bloomberg newsman Mark Gurman has said helium expects the instrumentality to beryllium launched adjacent year successful the fall season. However, Japan's Mizuho Securities banking steadfast has suggested a postponement to 2027 could inactive hap due to the fact that of Apple taking longer to determine connected cardinal plan elements specified arsenic the hinge.
This article, "iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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