We reported on the supposedly imminent release of a foldable iPhone for years. There have been strong and reliable rumors that the foldable iPhone will arrive in just two years. back in 2018at least. Back then, credible reports like CNBC said that Apple was going to launch a foldable iPhone in the market in 2020.
Those were 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025… and now it's not expected to land until 2026 at the earliest.
So while the rumors and reports from component suppliers and analysts are heating up and seem more compelling than ever, we would advise even more caution and skepticism than usual when approaching Apple's speculation. With that said, here's what the current foldable iPhone rumors say.
Updated December 12, 2025: New report from Information says the iPhone Fold will have a 7.7-inch internal display and a 5.3-inch external display.
Folding iPhone: what will it be called?
Many fans and experts have taken to calling the rumored device the iFold, which at least has the benefit of brevity. But there seems to be no reason to believe that this will be the official name. A more plausible theory proposed UDN report in November 2025, is that it will be called iPhone foldable.
Foldable iPhone: release date
According to a number of reports, the basic design and specifications of Apple's first foldable phone were expected to be completed in mid-2025, with production scheduled for late 2026. launch late 2026 or early 2027.
So far, this timeline has been suggested by several sources for 2024 and 2025, including The Information, The Wall Street Journal and analysts. Ming-Chi Kuo And Mark Gurman. A November 2025 report citing supply chain sources also confirmed this timeline, claiming that the iPhone Fold is about to enter mass production and be ready for release. launch in 2026.
The phone is expected to be complex and expensive to produce, so production volume will likely be very limited at first. A second model at the end of 2027 should see higher production numbers.
gourmet reported In July 2025, Apple will focus on the foldable iPhone features in iOS 27, which will be released in the fall of 2026.
IN report ChosunBiz in South Korea, Samsung Display President Lee Cheong announced that the company is “preparing for mass production of OLED foldable phones to be shipped to the North American customer.” Later in the article, the reporter states that “Samsung Display is known to be the exclusive supplier of the OLED that will be featured in Apple's foldable phone launching next year.”
Folding iPhone: Design
In 2024 Information reported that Apple has created several prototypes of flip phones in which the top and bottom of the phone fold together. More recent rumors in 2025 from Digital chat station on Weibo and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo offer book foldwith a vertical fold where the left and right sides meet. This is a similar style Google Pixel 9 Pro Foldable And Samsung Galaxy Z foldable.
The foldable iPhone could be the same size as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Luke Baker
The hinge is expected to be one of its most unique features. Some reports suggest it will be made of titanium alloy, and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in March 2025 that Apple is exploring the use of LiquidMetal for “durability, increased screen flatness, and minimize crease marks” on the screen. Apple received several patents for hinge designs, and it is unclear what the company will use in the final design.
July 14 Kuo reported that Apple has figured out how to eliminate the bend by using metal plates that help “distribute and control bending stress.”
Folding iPhone: size and dimensions
Ming-Chi Kuo also announced foldable iPhones. set of proposed structural parts. He says the book-style iPhone will have 7.8″ internal display in expanded form and 5.5″ external display. Kuo says Apple won't be satisfied until the phone's display is completely free of creases when opened.
In July, TrendForce made the same forecast: reporting what the foldable iPhone will have 7.8″ internal and 5.5″ external display. A later report by The Information indicate screen dimensions 7.7 inches inside And 5.3 inches outside.
They say that a foldable phone is at most Thickness 9.5 mm when folded and 4.5 mm when unfolded.. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 8.5mm thick, making it the thinnest iPhone of all time. iPhone Air by 5.6 mm.
Folding iPhone: Specifications and Features
We don't know what kind of processor the foldable iPhone will be powered by, but if it's rumored to launch in 2026, it will likely feature A20 or A20 Pro– some variant of the processor found in the iPhone 18.
We expect most iPhones to use Apple's own cellular modem And Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chips by then too. They can even be integrated into the main system-on-chip.
The foldable iPhone will reportedly have a power button that supports Touch ID rather than Face ID.
IDH
Due to the very thin design of the foldable iPhone and the need for different front-facing cameras when folded and unfolded, it will reportedly not feature Face ID. Instead of, Touch ID will be built into the side button just like the iPad Air's power button.
It is reported that there will be two rear cameras (probably standard wide and extra wide) and two front camerasone is when the iPhone is closed and the other is when it is open.
Folding iPhone: price
Expect the foldable iPhone to be a very high-end, ultra-premium model. The very first issue they say it's worth it $2000 or more…perhaps even as much as $2,399, which is more than double the price of the highest-end iPhone Pro Max. This last prediction from analyst Arthur Liao, who bases his stunning estimate on material costs (especially the panel and hinge) and Apple's highly profitable business model.
