The mythical “iPhone Fold” finally seems real. After years of rumors, Apple's first foldable device has reportedly entered the final stages of design and pre-production.
According to a new agency report Economic Daily Newsthe design is basically fixed. Supply chain insiders said Apple has completed the pilot phase and is now just finalizing the final details. This is a strong signal that the company intends to have this item on shelves by the end of 2026.
Apparently Apple has been working on this for over five years, but only recently gave the go-ahead for the final hardware. Trial production is already underway and suppliers are starting to stockpile parts to prepare for larger orders.
Analysts are already predicting big numbers. They expect Apple to sell between 7 and 9 million units in the first year alone. If this happens, Apple could instantly grab a huge 30-40% share of the global foldable device market, stealing the spotlight from Samsung, Huawei and Motorola overnight.
Why is this important and what to expect next
The smartphone market has been a bit boring lately, but… Apple folding could shake things up.
Most exciting rumor? Screen. While current Samsung or Google foldable phones still have that visible crease in the middle, insiders claim that Apple has found a way to eliminate it entirely. If the iPhone Fold comes out with a truly sleek and seamless screen, it will solve people's biggest complaints about this technology.
It is also expected to share some DNA with iPhone 17 proborrowing premium materials and possibly cooling technology.
For supply chain fans, the usual big players like Samsung (displays) and TSMC (chips) are on board. But other partners such as Shin Zu Shing (loop) and Chi Hong (cooling) are also preparing for a busy year.
For the rest of us, this is the biggest shift in iPhone design since iPhone X I lost the home button. Whether you love Apple or hate them, their arrival usually forces everyone else to step up their game.
What's next?
If these pilot tests go smoothly, we expect mass production to begin sometime in 2025. This makes an official launch likely at the end of 2026. Expect the leak floodgates to open soon—once suppliers start producing millions of these devices, keeping secrets will become impossible.
