iPhone fold rumors, ship date, price, efficiency

The provision chain leaks about Apple’s foldable iPhone have been growing in frequency, and it might be solely a few yr away. Here is what the rumor mill believes is within the works.

Whereas 2025 may see the discharge of an ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim, the yr after might show to be much more fascinating. A number of sources and stories through the years have mentioned that Apple was engaged on merchandise with foldable shows, the primary of which is anticipated to be a completely new iPhone mannequin.

Although different smartphone producers, corresponding to Samsung, have outright embraced the idea of foldable shows, with the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip, Apple has but to launch such a tool.

Nonetheless, rumors point out {that a} foldable iPhone, typically known as the iPhone Fold, is on the horizon. Individuals conversant in the matter have instructed AppleInsider that Apple and its provide chain companions have been researching the concept for years.

Leakers and analysts alike imagine Apple’s foldable iPhone is ready to debut inside the subsequent few years, and so they have quite a bit to say concerning the matter.

iPhone Fold launch date rumors — 2026 or 2027?

Apple hasn’t specified precisely when the iPhone Fold will launch, and that is hardly a shock given the corporate’s product announcement methods. Nonetheless, this hasn’t stopped leakers from offering their very own iPhone fold launch timelines.

Analysts imagine the iPhone Fold will debut in 2026 or 2027.

In November 2020, one rumor urged that Apple provider Foxconn was actively testing foldable iPhone prototypes, and that the gadget was set to launch in September 2022.

Equally, in September 2021, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned that Apple’s foldable iPhone would debut by 2024. Whereas these dates have clearly come and gone, and the iPhone Fold has but to launch, more moderen predictions proceed to recommend the gadget is years away.

Experiences from February and March 2024 urged that Apple had initially deliberate a 2026 launch, however that the venture was delayed till 2027. Rumors from June 2024 echoed the 2027 launch date for the iPhone Fold. A February 2025 report indicated that manufacturing may begin in early 2026, which might, once more, align with the proposed 2027 launch.

Not everybody agrees, nonetheless, as a totally different report from the identical month urged that Apple’s foldable iPhone would debut in 2026, fairly than 2027. The report claimed that Apple would begin manufacturing in late 2025, with a launch deliberate for the second half of 2026.

Although his earlier claims a few 2024 iPhone Fold launch have been mistaken, Ming-Chi Kuo resurfaced in March 2025, saying that Apple’s foldable iPhone would debut in late 2026 or early 2027, with mass manufacturing beginning within the fourth quarter of 2026.

Apple is predicted to ship between three million and 5 million items of the iPhone fold in 2026, with manufacturing quantity constrained by the complexity of producing the gadget. Kuo predicts that between the primary and the rumored second-generation iPhone Fold, Apple may promote 20 million in 2027.

In August 2024, analyst Jeff Pu claimed the iPhone Fold would debut alongside a foldable iPad in 2026. He reiterated these claims in March 2025 and a month later, in April 2025. Two separate stories from March 2025 and Might 2025 have additionally proposed a 2026 launch date for Apple’s foldable iPhone, with the latter report specifying that the gadget would debut in September 2026.

It stays to be seen precisely when the gadget will debut, however the general consensus amongst leakers and analysts is that Apple’s foldable iPhone will launch both in 2026 or 2027. Its foldable show is ready to mark a major departure from earlier iPhone fashions, nonetheless.

iPhone Fold show provider

Relative to the iPhone fashions at present obtainable, Apple’s foldable smartphone would supply extra display screen actual property for apps and video games. With the show unfolded, the gadget could also be just like an iPad mini by way of display screen measurement. That is set to be the primary promoting level of the iPhone Fold, however Apple probably needed to overcome engineering challenges to realize a foldable show that is as much as the corporate’s excessive requirements.

Samsung is probably going the unique show provider for the iPhone Fold.

In April 2022, rumors urged that Apple was working with LG Show on a foldable MacBook or iPad display screen, and solely a month later, stories a few foldable iPhone show started popping up.

In September 2022, one report urged that Apple was working with LG Show and Samsung, in an try to develop shows that will not crumple. This supposedly concerned creating hybrid OLED panels that mix the rigid sections of glass with versatile plastic substrate panels for the bending components.

Apple was reportedly nonetheless deciding on a show provider as of January 2025. Solely a month later, nonetheless, one leaker urged that the iPhone Fold show can be developed solely by Samsung, contradicting prior LG Show rumors, a few of which date again to 2017.

It seems as if Samsung will certainly produce the iPhone Fold show, as the corporate probably has an edge because of its expertise with its personal foldable merchandise. Experiences from April 2025 and Might 2025 have each mentioned that Apple has chosen Samsung as its show companion.

This info aligns with a December 2023 rumor, which mentioned folding iPhone shows have been the main focus of a then-new Samsung enterprise group.

Show dimensions and backbone

The iPhone Fold is anticipated to have two screens, with a smaller outer show for basic use and a folding inner one which’s a lot bigger. It seems as if the rumor mill has agreed on a number of the important specs of these elements.

Apple’s foldable iPhone might have a well-known 4:3 side ratio.

In February 2025, one leaker mentioned the show for the iPhone Fold may very well be “comparable to 2 6.1-inch iPhones folded collectively, leading to a complete measurement of over 12 inches.” The arithmetic of that supposed measurement is considerably mistaken, as it could realistically be a display screen measurement within the ballpark of seven.5 inches, which has similarities to the 8.3-inch iPad mini.

The identical month, a special rumor mentioned that Apple’s foldable iPhone would have a 5.49-inch outer display screen to permit it to work like a traditional smartphone. The interior display screen, to make it look extra like an iPad, reportedly measures a considerably lifelike 7.74 inches diagonally.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo echoed these claims, saying in March 2025 that the “folded-out interior display screen” can be 7.8 inches, whereas the outer display screen can be 5.5 inches. Two April 2025 rumors additionally supplied comparable dimensions.

Each leakers urged that the interior show may have a decision of two,713 by 1,920. This might give the show a pixel density of 428 pixels per inch. In keeping with the identical supply, the external-facing show will measure 5.49 inches and have a decision of two,088 by 1,422. It is a pixel density of 460ppi, matching that of Apple’s typical iPhone shows.

The interior show will supposedly use a hidden under-display digital camera that shall be just like different foldable gadget screens, whereas the exterior show will depend on a visual punch gap digital camera. As for the show’s side ratio, a March 2025 rumor signifies the iPhone Fold will use a well-known 4:3 format, very like older iPad fashions.

Show creases, sturdiness, hinge mechanisms

Sturdiness is a significant concern on the subject of merchandise with foldable shows. Whereas there are quite a few doable methods Apple may strategy a folding iPhone, the corporate would at all times have to ensure that its display screen can face up to repeated folding over extended intervals.

The iPhone Fold may function a liquid metallic hinge mechanism that is twice as robust as titanium.

The method of folding and unfolding may cause put on on a show, particularly in an space the place the fold can develop right into a crease, which may finally deteriorate. Apple, like different folding cellphone firms, has to design the iPhone Fold to counter this weak spot.

An Apple patent from October 2021 launched the idea of a folding iPhone that places the show on the surface, as an alternative of the display screen being on the within of the fold.

That is a method of getting across the concern, because the display screen does not should cope with the sometimes tight radius of an inner fold, and as an alternative has to cope with being completely uncovered to the weather. However Apple might have a possible answer for that as properly.

Apple’s patents reveal that the corporate has been contemplating a foldable iPhones since 2015. One such patent, from 2020, signifies that Apple might implement know-how so iPhone shows themselves may “heal” the inevitable put on and tear.

“Digital Units With Versatile Show Cowl Layers,” proposes mixing inflexible and versatile areas for a show, after which additionally using what Apple calls “self-healing.” This may very well be associated to the scratch-resistant show coating rumored for the iPhone 17 vary, although this was reportedly deserted.

Apple’s patents recommend the corporate experimented with numerous show options for the iPhone Fold.

Apple has additionally thought of inner display screen fold designs too, however with remarkably difficult hinge mechanisms. The concept was for there to be added helps for the show at its most weak level, in order that customers may press down on versatile sections with out damaging the display screen.

The iPhone maker’s patents have proposed the concept of utilizing stretchable shows as properly. Nevertheless, it appears unlikely for Apple to go down that route for the iPhone Fold for the second. A February 2025 report mentioned that Apple’s folding iPhone is probably not stricken by a crease in any respect. A supply doubled down on claims Apple was working exhausting to keep away from wrinkles within the show, which may emerge over time.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned in March 2025 that Apple would use a liquid-metal hinge for the iPhone fold show. The identical month, a special leaker defined that the fabric may very well be twice as robust as titanium. Liquid metallic know-how has additionally appeared in Apple patents from 2014 and 2015.

In March 2025, two separate leakers mentioned that iPhone Fold show engineering efforts focsed on energy effectivity. Supposedly, it will “obtain the aim of slimming the battery by bettering the Show Driver Built-in Circuit (DDI).” One of many leakers believes that the driving force IC chips within the folding show are being upgraded, from utilizing a 28-nanometer manufacturing course of to a 16-nanometer model.

Improved battery life often is the finish results of these efforts. We may additionally see versatile batteries within the iPhone Fold, as an Apple patent from 2020 references this know-how.

iPhone Fold battery, design, pricing

On the subject of the bodily measurement of the show, 5.49 inches is loads smaller than the 6.1-inch smallest iPhone 16. To get smaller in a flagship gadget, it’s important to return to the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini.

As for the the gadget itself, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed in March 2025 that the iPhone Fold would have a folded thickness roughly 9mm to 9.5mm. When opened, its thickness can be roughly 4.5mm to 4.8mm.

A doubtful leak from February 2025 had a stab on the specs. The listing seemingly included a 5000mAh “3D Stacked” battery cell system, a brand new ultra-thin Meta Lens entrance digital camera, and rear Principal and Extremely-Extensive cameras. Kuo additionally mentioned the gadget would have two rear cameras, and one entrance digital camera when the iPhone is unfolded.

When it comes to pricing, the iPhone fold may in the end price round $2300, which is greater than a Mac Studio. That is in accordance with an analyst report from March 2025, although Ming-Chi Kuo has additionally supplied a value estimate between $2,000 and $2,500. A 3rd leaker claimed in April 2025 that the worth may find yourself being between $2,100 and $2,300.

In the end, the iPhone Fold is a minimum of a yr away, and a few are understandably skeptical concerning the market efficiency and potential of the gadget. Nonetheless, fairly a number of analysts and leakers imagine its within the works, there are even claims of a successor product. We’ll see quickly sufficient exaclty what Apple’s first foldable seems to be like, assuming it does not get canceled like a number of different firm initiatives.