Apple is finally making its long-awaited move into the foldable smartphone market. After years of rumors, credible industry sources and top analysts now confirm that the iPhone Fold is set to arrive in 2026 — and it could be the most exciting Apple product in years. Here's a complete breakdown of what to expect.
What Is the iPhone Fold?
The iPhone Fold is Apple's first-ever foldable smartphone. Unlike the clamshell-style Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Apple's design mirrors a book-style form factor similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold — meaning it opens like a small tablet when unfolded. Apple is expected to officially call the device the “iPhone Fold,” a name the tech media has already widely adopted.
iPhone Fold Design: Slim, Durable, and Premium
One of the most striking aspects of the iPhone Fold's design is its thinness. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the device to measure between 9 and 9.5 mm when folded and just 4.5 to 4.8 mm when unfolded — comparable to the ultra-slim iPhone Air. Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital has corroborated a thickness of at least 4.8 mm in the open position.
The volume buttons are reportedly positioned on the top edge of the device, aligned to the right — similar to the iPad mini — while the power button and Camera Control remain on the right edge, consistent with other recent iPhone models. The rear of the device is said to feature an iPhone Air-style camera plateau.
For materials, Kuo reports a titanium chassis with a hinge built from a combination of titanium and stainless steel. Analyst Jeff Pu believes Apple may be using a titanium-aluminum combination for the frame, but both agree the construction will be built to resist bending and withstand daily wear.
Display: Two Screens, Zero Crease
The iPhone Fold features a dual-screen setup:
- Outer display: A 5.5-inch screen (or 5.3 inches, per a report from The Information) for use when the phone is folded — similar in size to a standard iPhone.
- Inner display: A large 7.8-inch (or 7.7-inch) iPad-style screen that opens up when the device is unfolded, roughly the size of a piece of A6 paper.
The inner screen is expected to use a 2,713 x 1,920 resolution, while the outer display comes in at 2,088 x 1,422.
Perhaps the biggest engineering achievement Apple is claiming is a virtually crease-free inner display. Most foldable phones today suffer from a visible crease at the fold point. Apple is tackling this with a metal plate that distributes stress across the hinge, combined with liquid metal hinges manufactured through a die-casting process. Multiple supply chain sources have indicated that Apple has effectively “solved the crease problem,” which would make the iPhone Fold the first crease-free foldable on the market.
Apple is also reportedly evaluating a transparent polyimide film as an additional protective layer on top of ultra-thin glass — a tougher display solution than what competitors currently offer.
Cameras: Four Lenses Across Both Screens
The iPhone Fold is expected to feature a total of four cameras:
- Two 48-megapixel rear cameras (dual-lens system)
- One front-facing camera on the outer display (punch-hole design, top-left corner)
- One under-screen camera (USC) on the inner display for video calls when the phone is open
This setup was corroborated by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, and the 48MP dual-rear-camera detail comes from prolific leaker Digital Chat Station.
Authentication: Touch ID Returns
The iPhone Fold will not feature Face ID. Instead, Apple is reverting to a Touch ID side button — the same authentication method used in the iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini. The decision is driven by the physical space constraints of the foldable design, which makes incorporating Face ID modules for both screens impractical. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has confirmed this rumor.
Performance and Connectivity: Apple's Most Advanced Internals
The iPhone Fold will be powered by Apple's next-generation silicon and will feature the C2 modem — Apple's second custom-designed cellular chip, succeeding the C1 (debuted in iPhone 16e) and the C1X (featured in iPhone Air). Gurman expects the C2 modem to bring faster speeds and expanded mmWave support in the United States.
Notably, the iPhone Fold will have no physical SIM card slot, continuing Apple's push toward eSIM-only devices.
Battery: The Biggest Ever in an iPhone
Despite its ultra-thin profile, the iPhone Fold is said to pack the largest battery ever used in an iPhone. Apple is reportedly slimming down internal components — including the display driver — to free up space for more high-density battery cells. A Korean tech blog with a strong track record of accurate leaks has noted Apple's heavy focus on power efficiency, suggesting battery life could be surprisingly capable for such a thin device.
Color Options: Simple and Sophisticated
For launch, Apple is testing only black and white color variants with suppliers, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. However, Gurman notes that Apple's plans could still evolve before the device goes on sale.
iPhone Fold Price: How Much Will It Cost?
The iPhone Fold is shaping up to be the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever released. Here's what analysts are forecasting:
- $2,000 – $2,500 according to multiple early reports
- $1,800 – $2,000 per analysts at UBS
- $2,399 per Fubon Research
One potentially positive sign for buyers: Kuo has reported that the hinge component is now expected to carry an average selling price of just $70 to $80 during mass production — well below the $100–$120 industry expectation. He attributes this to assembly design optimizations and Foxconn's production efficiencies. Whether this translates to a lower retail price or simply fattens Apple's margins remains to be seen.
iPhone Fold Launch Date: When Is It Coming?
Multiple credible sources point to a fall 2026 release, consistent with Apple's typical September–November iPhone launch window. Key production milestones include:
- March 2025: Device entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn
- November 2025: Entered engineering validation stage
- Q4 2025 / Early 2026: Apple reportedly began stockpiling components
- Q4 2026 (October): Foxconn expected to begin official mass production
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iPhone Fold to launch in the fall of 2026. However, Japan's Mizuho Securities has suggested a potential delay to 2027 is still possible if Apple takes longer to finalize key design decisions around the hinge. For now, the fall 2026 timeline remains the prevailing consensus.
Should You Wait for the iPhone Fold?
If you're an Apple loyalist looking for a radically new smartphone experience, the iPhone Fold could be worth the wait. The combination of a near-crease-free display, titanium build quality, four-camera system, and Apple's signature software polish could make it the most refined foldable on the market. That said, the premium price tag — likely north of $2,000 — means it will be a considered purchase for most buyers.
Keep an eye out for more news as we approach Apple's expected fall 2026 event.
Sources: MacRumors, Bloomberg (Mark Gurman), Ming-Chi Kuo, Jeff Pu, Digital Chat Station, Instant Digital, The Information, UDN
