Apple's Foldable iPhone: release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades
Concept of a foldable iPhone. | Image by PhoneArena
Apple's foldable iPhone: what to expect
Rumored upgrades:
- First foldable iPhone will likely have a book-style design
- 7.8-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external display
- Dual rear camera setup
- 12 GB of RAM, up to 1 TB of storage
- 5,000–5,500 mAh battery
- iOS 27, optimized for foldables
- Apple may not have been able to eliminate the crease as it initially wanted, but it should be minimal
- Only UTG glass to be used for less visible hinge
- iOS may be redesigned for a foldable experience, it may not run iPadOS
- Touch ID for authentication, no Face ID
- May be named 'Ultra' and not 'iPhone Fold' as rumors referred to it
- The first foldable iPhone is expected to come in late 2026.
- It could accompany the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro in a fall 2026 release (potentially September).
- A new report claims a slight delay in schedule and a potential December release.
Expected price:
- The foldable iPhone was expected earlier to start at around $2,399.
- Some reports suggest even more aggressive pricing.
- The newest report suggests a starting price of $1,999.
Jump to:
Foldable iPhone release date
Apple is working on releasing its first foldable iPhone in 2026, possibly alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series.
| Foldable | Release date |
|---|---|
| Foldable iPhone (iPhone Fold) | Expected to arrive in 2026 |
| Samsung Galaxy Fold | February 2019 |
| Huawei Mate X2 | February 2021 |
| Honor Magic V | January 2022 |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold | March 2021 |
| Oppo Find N | December 2021 |
| Vivo X Fold | April 2022 |
A new report now claims that the foldable iPhone may be delayed and may not come in September, as was believed earlier. Luckily, it doesn't seem to be a huge delay, and the device may come in December.
One thing is (almost) certain: Apple is reportedly planning annual releases for its foldable device, aiming for top-tier hardware and a nearly invisible crease.
According to the well-known industry insider Ming-Chi Kuo, 3 to 5 million iPhone Fold phones are expected to ship in 2026 and 20 million (plus the second-generation iPhone Fold) in 2027.
In late 2025, according to some reports, Apple moved the iPhone Fold into the engineering verification and pre-production (EVT) stage.
It was then reported the foldable iPhone's pre-production timelines were perfectly on time for a fall release. The display for the foldable iPhone is expected to enter the mass production stage in July.
Meanwhile, a new report indicates that Apple has increased its initial orders for foldable displays from Samsung. Reportedly, the target was increased to 20 million units (from 13 to 15 million), which shows Cupertino is feeling confident with the foldable and is predicting good interest from buyers.
Moreover, Samsung has started mass production for the displays for the foldable iPhone, apparently a bit earlier. We've also recently had a report claiming the phone has entered trial production. Apparently, test units may soon be in use by Apple employees.
Unfortunately, another supply chain report claims Cupertino is encountering engineering problems that may cause a delay.
All in all, the potential release date of the first foldable iPhone is difficult to predict at the moment. At least we're now certain it exists, and it's coming.
And now, a new report coming from China claims that the phone may be called 'iPhone Ultra'.
Foldable iPhone price
Some insiders expect Apple to launch at around the $2,000 price tag. Some reports also corroborate the expectation of a Galaxy Z Fold 8-ish pricing. Meanwhile, an even more exciting rumor claims the foldable iPhone may start at $1,999.
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| iPhone Fold | $1,999* |
| Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 | $1,999 |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold | $1,799 |
* - expected
The most recent reports claim that the foldable iPhone (as we mentioned it may be called the iPhone Ultra) may come with a Z Fold 7-like pricing. That price is rumored for the starting 256 GB version. Reportedly, we'll have $200 jumps for higher storage options.
According to this report, you can expect the foldable iPhone to cost around $2,199 for the 512 GB version and $2,399 for the version with 1 TB.
Meanwhile, earlier rumors mentioned a starting price of $2,399. It appears that this information was probably inaccurate.
Rumor has it that Cupertino has abandoned its grandiose plan for a crease-free display to offer a more competitive price for the device.
Foldable iPhone design
The foldable iPhone might be smaller and wider than other foldable phones on the market. It might look a lot like the Pixel Fold on the right. | Image by PhoneArena
The first foldable iPhone (or the iPhone Ultra, as a leak recently claimed) is widely believed to have a book-style foldable design but be wider than the Z Fold. It's reportedly going to have a wider aspect ratio, with a design more similar to the first-gen Pixel Fold.
However, unlike Google's foldable, the iPhone Fold is anticipated to have a more modern and elegant design. Apple might aim to avoid some of the things that Pixel fans have complained about, such as outdated design, thick bezels, or an excessive weight.
Some reports claim Apple's first foldable iPhone may feature a 7.8-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external display. That would make its displays smaller than the Galaxy Z Fold 7's massive 8-inch main and 6.5-inch cover screens. Even the older Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the OnePlus Open would offer larger displays in both areas.
Renders of what the foldable iPhone may potentially look like were recently shared by reputable tipster IceUniverse, corroborating these rumors:
Render of the foldable iPhone. | Image by IceUniverse
We've also recently seen another set of leaked renders of the device:
Leaked renders of what could be the foldable iPhone. | Image by Sonny Dickson
Sonny Dickson has a relatively good track record, so it's highly likely these renders are the real deal. All in all, the early rumors about the foldable having smaller screens may end up being true.
If this design is true, Apple's device would unfold looking more like a mini iPad.
Another render of the foldable iPhone. | Image by IceUniverse
We've also had dummy units of the foldable phone leak alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which gives us an even better idea of what we may expect.
Dummy units of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, foldable iPhone, and iPhone 18 Pro. | Images by Images by Sonny Dickson
The phone is seen with a camera plateau similar to the iPhone Air. From the front, we see a section that may be for an under-display camera or even a Dynamic Island element. Of course, these are still dummy units, so the final product is likely to be way more refined. But the general idea is clear.
Now, according to a new report, Apple is said to use UTG with an exceptional thinness for the display (more on the display later) and a less-visible crease. The company is also said to have moved away from a more expensive hinge technology it previously considered in order to keep the costs down.
Reportedly, Cupertino is now going to use a 3D-printed titanium hinge for the device. A special "filler" material may have been used for tiny gaps in the hinge that could be due to the 3D-printed parts (instead of going for expensive precision machining).
However, it's important to note that with only UTG for the glass, the durability of the foldable iPhone may not be on par with other foldable phones on the market, which use a hybrid glass solution.
So how thin will this new foldable iPhone be?
| Model | Thickness (Folded) | Thickness (Unfolded) |
|---|---|---|
| Foldable iPhone* | 9 - 9.5 mm* | 4.5 - 4.8 mm* |
| Oppo Find N5 | 8.9 mm | 4.2 mm |
| Pixel 10 Pro Fold | 10.8 mm | 5.2 mm |
* - expected.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its 8.9 mm (folded) and 4.2 mm (unfolded) numbers could outdo it on paper, but in real life, Apple's foldable will surely feel thin and elegant.
Additionally, the device may bring back side-mounted Touch ID for biometric authentication, offering an alternative to Face ID that could be better suited for the foldable form factor. Multiple rumors have corroborated this information already, as well as super recent reports, so it's likely accurate.
Durability remains a critical concern for foldable phones, especially at premium price points. Analyst Jeff Pu expects the foldable iPhone to feature a hybrid frame made of titanium and aluminum, contrasting earlier reports that suggested a stainless steel and titanium hinge with a full titanium casing.
Bloomberg previously described the design as resembling two titanium iPhone Air models joined side by side, adding to speculation about Apple's final material choice.
Foldable iPhone display
These are the expected sizes for the foldable iPhone displays:
- 7.8-inch inner display
- 5.5-inch outer display
The internal screen may be produced by Samsung. Some rumors claim LG Display may also be one of the suppliers involved, with Samsung Display being the primary one. Apple would be responsible for the panel structure, material processing, and laminated pressing method.
Now, onto the crease situation.
Initially, it was believed Apple was late to the foldable party because it wanted no crease on its phone whatsoever. The company reportedly saw removing the crease as the key feature that would set its device apart.
To achieve that ambition, Apple reportedly considered an expensive hinge technology initially.
Then, however, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple found a new solution that was cheaper to produce than previously suggested.
Unfortunately, even that tech may not have been able to fully get rid of the crease. A newer report giving us details about the foldable iPhone's display claims that despite the display and hinge of the phone being some of the most advanced in the industry, there may still be some crease left.
According to the report, the crease is said to be below 0.15 mm, and the crease angle is said to be less than 2.5 degrees.
For reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 7's crease depth is around 0.7 mm or less, but not lower than the rumored one for the iPhone. The crease angle on the Fold is said to be around 3-4 degrees, although it's difficult to confirm.
As you can see, judging by these numbers, the foldable iPhone may still rock a less-visible crease than the Fold 7. However, Apple's dream of a fully creaseless foldable was apparently far too expensive to come to fruition.
Another recent leak claims that Apple has chosen to use ultra-thin-glass tech (UTG) for the display, with a thickness of less than 30 micrometers. If true, that would be a compromise in terms of durability, although it may help with the crease situation.
The UTG tech would allow for the display to be more flexible, which would better hide the crease. However, using only UTG could make the display more fragile and more susceptible to cracking from drops.
The report also claims Cupertino is using "self-healing" glass technology that's aimed at smoothing out minor scratches and stress marks over time.
Foldable iPhone camera
We expect a versatile camera system on board with the first foldable iPhone.
A report from Ming-Chi Kuo says that the foldable iPhone may only have a dual rear camera system, though. So, at this point, we don't expect something like the triple cameras on the iPhone Pro and Pro Max models.
That means we can expect the following for the foldable iPhone:
- Main camera, likely a 48 MP sensor
- Ultra-wide camera, likely a 48 MP sensor
If the foldable iPhone only has two cameras, chances are the telephoto camera will be dropped. That means you won't get as good a zoom quality as on other foldable phones. In comparison, you do get a 5X telephoto lens on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, so if Apple does not have that lens, that would be a considerable downside.
Under-display selfie camera?
Numerous early reports mentioned the foldable iPhone sporting an under-display selfie camera on the inner display. For context, Samsung's Galaxy Fold series has been using an "invisible" under-display selfie camera ever since the Fold 4 but ditched that with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
However, those reports were likely false. Newer ones indicate that the Cupertino giant may have decided the quality of the images from an under-display camera may not be up to standards. Apple may have instead chosen to feature a punch-hole design for the selfie cameras on both internal and external displays.
The Dynamic Island would be gone (after all, the foldable iPhone is not expected to come with Face ID), but apps and notifications may span out of the punch-hole similarly.
Foldable iPhone storage
Reportedly, the foldable iPhone may start at 256 GB of storage. We have seen many foldable phones from other brands also offer at least 256 GB of storage on their book-style foldables.
And in 2026, it's unreasonable to expect a storage option with just 128 GB anyway, so there's that.
iPhone Fold expected torage options:
- 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage
- 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage
- 12 GB RAM + 1 TB storage
Foldable iPhone battery
Details about the foldable iPhone's battery capacity have emerged, suggesting it may have a battery capacity between 5,000 mAh and 5,500 mAh.
Apple is most likely prioritizing energy efficiency, including the use of more power-efficient display components, to extend battery life instead of simply increasing the battery size.
This is actually wonderful, given that iPhones typically have smaller batteries than Android phones:
| Foldable phone | Battery size |
|---|---|
| iPhone Fold | 5,000—5,500 mAh* |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 | ~4,400 mAh |
| Oppo Find N5 | 5,600 mAh |
| Honor Magic V5 | 6,100 mAh |
* - expected
That's a clear win over the Z Fold 7, so maybe Samsung will up the mAh numbers for the Galaxy Z Fold 8?
Foldable iPhone features and software
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone is expected to run iOS 27, but a version tailored to foldable phones. The software is likely to offer smoother transitions between folded and unfolded modes. It should also bring improved multitasking and apps that adapt more effectively to varying screen sizes.
These refinements should make the foldable experience feel natural and integrated within iOS. iOS 27 is also anticipated to introduce a refreshed user interface designed to take full advantage of larger, flexible displays.
A new report states Apple may redesign iOS for foldables, making it look more like iPadOS. However, the report insists we're not seeing a full iPadOS experience. Reportedly, the foldable iPhone won't support iPad apps, but iOS apps would be redesigned to feature a layout similar to iPad apps.
Bars may be introduced to some iPhone apps, and these will be visible only on the internal display, while the cover screen's apps will look just like traditional iPhone apps.
As for multitasking, the same report claims that the experience may be similar to the iPad but, unfortunately, not as sophisticated or complex. Apps would be able to run side by side on the internal display, but that may be it in terms of multitasking abilities.
iOS 27 is supposed to also bring a new Siri that, according to some reports, may also be available as a standalone app. The personal assistant is said to also gain contextual awareness with iOS 27 and be able to handle tasks inside other apps.
Foldable iPhone hardware and specs
Foldable iPhone's specs:
- CPU: Apple's A20 Pro (2nm)
- RAM: 12 GB
- Battery: 5,000 - 5,500 mAh
- Charging: unknown
- Storage: 256, 512 GB, potentially 1TB
- Camera setup: 48 MP main, 48 MP ultra-wide
Rumor has it the foldable iPhone may feature the 2nm-built A20 Pro chipset. The processor is set to be up to 15% faster and 30% more power efficient compared to the A19.
The company is also expected to adopt new WMCM packaging technology, allowing RAM to be integrated directly with the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine for even faster processing.
Foldable iPhone preliminary comparisons
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Apple iPhone Fold: Here's how the upcoming foldable iPhone is going to compare to its main rival, Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Should I wait for the iPhone Fold?
- You should wait for the iPhone Fold if you're not happy with the current foldable phone design and form factors. You should also wait if you love iOS and want to have that experience rather than Android on a foldable phone.
- You should not wait for the iPhone Fold ifyou think current foldable phones are already good. The iPhone will be slightly different, which you may not like if you already like the current form factors. Also, if you don't want a foldable phone.
Latest rumors about the foldable iPhone
Follow us on Google News
Popular stories
Latest News
