Apple is rumored to have been quietly working on a foldable iPhone since 2021.
As the folding phone trend kept growing since then, notably pushed to the mainstream by the likes of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series, the Cupertino company is more and more likely to finally pull the trigger on a folding iPhone.
This is where we'll compile everything we know about the foldable Apple iPhone so far…
What we know so far
All the way back in late 2020, there was speculation that Apple had Chinese manufacturer Foxconn build two different foldable prototypes, likely a flip-style iPhone and a book-style one.
Later in March of 2021, reputable leaker Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that an 8-inch foldable iPhone could launch in 2023.
Based on Kuo's intel, the foldable iPhone was expected to boast a display that is slightly larger than the 7.9-inch iPad mini.
Over these years we've heard many more rumors and claims from reputable insiders that Apple is experimenting with foldable iPhones behind the scenes, waiting for the opportune time to enter the folding phone market, currently dominated by Samsung.
For now, we can speculate that Apple will unveil its folding iPhone in 2025. It's worth pointing out that this could be just a teaser, akin to how Apple Intelligence was unveiled way before release.
The actual foldable iPhone release date is expected during the second half of 2026, based on the latest insider intel.
Stay tuned for updates on the release date, as we expect more accurate predictions soon enough.
iPhone Flip & Fold Price
When it comes to the foldable iPhone's price, no reputable leaks have given us an estimate yet.
However, we can speculate based on Apple's current iPhone pricings, as well as the price of competitor folding phones.
The current Galaxy Z Fold 6 book-like foldable from Samsung starts at $1,899.99, while its flip-style Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at $1,099.99. Meanwhile Google's book-like Pixel 9 Pro Fold starts at $1,499.
Apple itself prices its current flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max at $1,199.
If the Cupertino company doesn't go crazy, like it did with the Apple Vision Pro, we can presume that a foldable iPhone won't be that much more expensive, if at all, than the flagship Pro Max, at around $1,199-to-$1,599.
However, Apple's own trade-in deals, plus carrier deals can often drop these prices down. In addition, Apple will have an option for monthly payments as usual, making the purchase more manageable for consumers.
iPhone Flip & Fold Design
Until recently, insider information kept telling us that Apple's foldable iPhone would be a flip-style one, akin to the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
However, things are a bit more confusing as of 2024, since Ross Young, a trusted display industry insider, tweeted with confidence that the iPhone foldable will be a "fold", meaning akin to the book-like Galaxy Z Fold 6 instead.
Either way, those are the two current foldables we get from western brands, so whether Apple decides to go with either one, or both (like Samsung), we have a pretty good idea of what to expect.
If the foldable iPhone is a flip-style, it will be about the shape and size of a traditional iPhone when unfolded (possibly around 6 inches in display size). However, as a flip phone, and thanks to its flexible display, it would fold in half when not in use, making it extremely compact and pocketable.
If the foldable iPhone is a fold-style, it is rumored that its folding screen will be bigger than on the iPad mini (meaning above 7.9-inches) – tall and wide, perfect for multitasking and watching movies, videos, reading books, and doing some work on the go (e.g. video editing). When folded, we expect a book-like iPhone foldable to become the size of a regular iPhone, with an external screen size of about 6.8 inches, like the current Pro Max iPhones.
Whether a book-like foldable from Apple would be square, or widescreen, is up to speculation just yet.
Either way, we can also expect a premium glass-and-metal design for Apple's foldable, regardless of its form factor. Both phones will likely be (nearly) twice as thick as a regular iPhone when folded, which is traditionally what we see from western competitors' foldables (Samsung, Google, Motorola). Although Chinese brands have already developed far thinner ones, it's not known whether Apple will have access to, and will choose to use thinner folding phone technology, for the first-gen iPhone foldable, at least.
Back in 2021 we covered an Apple patent showing a slim and strong folding device hinge, so there's merit to the idea that Apple's foldable could be thinner than Samsung and Google's offerings. But for now, we're yet to have any confirmation that the above-mentioned patent will be in use on Apple's first-gen foldable, or perhaps later iterations.
iPhone Flip & Fold Display
The Motorola Razr (2024) is a flip-style foldable | Image credit - PhoneArena
Naturally, the foldable iPhone's display will have one folding point in the middle, possibly backed up by the aforementioned strong and slim hinge.
If it's a flip phone, we expect this iPhone to have a traditional, glass-covered, albeit small external display, covering only the upper folding half of it, so the user can see and respond to things like notifications without having to unfold it all the time.
Unfolding the iPhone flip, the user will be met with the main display, about the size of a regular iPhone, possibly about 6-to-7 inches in size, for all the main phone tasks.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a book-like foldable | Image credit - PhoneArena
If Apple chooses to release a book-like foldable iPhone, we can again expect a single folding point in the middle of its main display, which, when opened, would be tablet-sized. On the outside would also be a traditional screen, about the size of a regular iPhone, for using the phone without having to unfold it every time.
Regardless of the foldable iPhone's type, its inner flexible display would likely be covered by flexible glass technology, possibly Corning's Foldable Glass, albeit this is mere speculation based on Apple's use of Corning glass in the past. Alternatively, Apple could've quietly designed its own flexible Ceramic Shield glass for foldables.
We also suspect it to feature OLED technology and 120Hz refresh rate, similarly to Apple's other flagship iPhones. Same for the external screen. OLED means pitch blacks and vivid colors, as well as better efficiency than LCD screens, while 120Hz refresh rate equates to smoother motion, as opposed to the more common 60Hz displays, which refresh only 60 times per second.
iPhone Flip & Fold Battery
Foldable phones traditionally feature multiple batteries, arranged around the hinge of the phone, where the actual folding happens.
Common sense dictates that a flip-style foldable iPhone will feature a smaller battery than a larger book-like one, which is good, as the larger one has a larger screen to power.
We're yet to get the exact battery specs of Apple's future folding iPhone, but what we do know is the Cupertino company traditionally promises a full day's worth of battery life per charge, and that's what we can expect here also.
Charging the phone will be done via a USB Type-C port, although it's reasonable to expect wireless charging also, MagSafe and Qi2, likely up to 30W speeds for the former and 15W for the latter.
iPhone Flip & Fold Features and software
If Apple releases a flip folding iPhone, we can assume that it won't have any special features beyond the ability to fold into a more compact device, and the ability to serve as its own kickstand, for shooting videos and taking photos.
Most noteworthy flip foldable phones we have today can be unfolded half way, with their bottom half placed on the floor, and top half (where the camera is) pointed in any direction, for hands-free selfies, videos, group photos and video calls. They can also be placed in "tent mode" for the same reason.
With that in mind, we can get some special camera features for filming with the phone half-folded, which, for example, Samsung calls "Flex Mode" on its own foldables, and Apple will surely have its own name for it also.
In addition, apps will be able to detect whether the iPhone is half-folded, and split their content between the two halves. For example, YouTube could show a video in the top half of the folding screen, and playback controls on the bottom, as it does on Android foldables. This will likely be up to iOS app developers to implement, however, so it may not work for all apps at first.
If Apple releases a book-like folding iPhone, then once again we can expect "Flex Mode"-like functionality, but also – if we're being optimistic in our speculation here – iPad-like features. Due to the big screen a Galaxy Z Fold-like iPhone may offer, it makes sense for Apple to finally give iPhone users (at least users of this phone) true split-screen multitasking, for running more than one app at the same time.
Instead, we'd likely be able to split the screen between two apps, and in a perfect world – even more in Slide Over, an iPad feature for windowed apps.
I would personally love a book-like foldable iPhone to get even more iPadOS features, such as Center Stage, essentially a desktop mode, but knowing Apple, it will likely keep that for the iPad, so this potential folding iPhone won't cannibalize its sales.
iPhone Flip & Fold Hardware and specs
Nothing is currently known about the processor and RAM of a potential folding iPhone, but we can expect a future A19 Pro chip inside of it, as the current iPhone 16 Pro Max is powered by the A18 Pro.
There's no argument a book-like foldable iPhone would likely be a powerhouse, which makes sense for a tablet phone. But if Apple goes with a flip phone, we shouldn't expect any exceptional performance, maybe not even a Pro chip, but just an A19.
This speculation is based on common sense and Samsung's treatment of its book-like foldable and flip foldable, the former having all of the productivity features and top specs, while the latter is merely just a trendy, traditional smartphone with not a lot of special features, other than Flex Mode and a compact size.
Should you wait for the iPhone Flip & Fold?
If you're a fan of folding phones, and the current options in the west just don't do it for you (e.g. the Galaxy Z Fold 6 too narrow, or you simply don't like Android) then it's worth waiting a bit more before buying a foldable, and seeing what Apple is about to offer.
However, the wait might take a while, and Apple might not release what you've been waiting for. For example, I'm hoping for a book-like foldable productivity powerhouse, but most rumors point towards a simple, trendy flip phone. In my case, I just use my Galaxy Z Fold 5, and I'm happy.
Plus, waiting potentially nearly two years to get into foldables could be difficult, especially if you're enthusiastic about them, so looking into the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold might be worth it for you.
But if you're like most smartphone users and you're comfortable with the slab phone factor, you don't need to wait for the folding iPhone. We don't have nearly enough information about it yet to know whether it will be a good buy. Stay tuned for updates!
Rado, a tech enthusiast with a love for mobile devices, brings his passion for Android and iPadOS to PhoneArena. His tech journey began with MP3 players and has evolved to include tinkering with Android tablets and iPads, even running Linux and Windows 95 on them. Beyond tech, Rado is a published author, music producer, and PC game developer. His professional work on iPads, from producing songs to editing videos, showcases his belief in their capabilities. Rado looks forward to the future of mobile tech, particularly in augmented reality and multi-screen smartphones.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless