iPhone fold rumors, ship date, price, efficiency

The availability chain leaks about Apple’s foldable iPhone have been rising in frequency, and it could be solely a few 12 months 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 12 months after could show to be much more fascinating. A number of sources and experiences through the years have stated that Apple was engaged on merchandise with foldable shows, the primary of which is predicted to be a completely new iPhone mannequin.

Although different smartphone producers, comparable 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 aware of the matter have informed AppleInsider that Apple and its provide chain companions have been researching the thought for years.

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

In November 2020, one rumor recommended 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 stated 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, newer predictions proceed to recommend the gadget is years away.

Reviews from February and March 2024 recommended that Apple had initially deliberate a 2026 launch, however that the challenge 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, nevertheless, as a completely different report from the identical month recommended that Apple’s foldable iPhone would debut in 2026, moderately 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 flawed, 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 models 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 experiences 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 total 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, nevertheless.

iPhone Fold show provider

Relative to the iPhone fashions at present accessible, Apple’s foldable smartphone would supply extra display actual property for apps and video games. With the show unfolded, the gadget could also be much like an iPad mini when it comes to display dimension. That is set to be the principle promoting level of the iPhone Fold, however Apple probably needed to overcome engineering challenges to attain a foldable show that is as much as the corporate’s excessive requirements.

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

In September 2022, one report recommended that Apple was working with LG Show and Samsung, in an try and 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, nevertheless, one leaker recommended that the iPhone Fold show could 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 due to its expertise with its personal foldable merchandise. Reviews from April 2025 and Might 2025 have each stated that Apple has chosen Samsung as its show associate.

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

Show dimensions and backbone

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

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

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

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

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

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

Show creases, sturdiness, hinge mechanisms

Sturdiness is a significant concern with regards to merchandise with foldable shows. Whereas there are quite a few potential methods Apple may strategy a folding iPhone, the corporate would all the time must ensure that its display can stand up to repeated folding over extended durations.

The method of folding and unfolding could 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 telephone firms, has to design the iPhone Fold to counter this weak point.

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 being on the within of the fold.

That is a technique of getting across the subject, because the display would not must cope with the usually tight radius of an inside fold, and as an alternative has to cope with being completely uncovered to the weather. However Apple could 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 could 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 has additionally thought of inside display fold designs too, however with remarkably sophisticated hinge mechanisms. The thought was for there to be added helps for the show at its most susceptible level, in order that customers may press down on versatile sections with out damaging the display.

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

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

In March 2025, two separate leakers stated that iPhone Fold show engineering efforts focsed on energy effectivity. Supposedly, this may “obtain the objective of slimming the battery by enhancing the Show Driver Built-in Circuit (DDI).” One of many leakers believes that the motive 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 will be 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

In the case of the bodily dimension 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 a must 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 could be roughly 4.5mm to 4.8mm.

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

By way of pricing, the iPhone fold may finally price round $2300, which is greater than a Mac Studio. That is in line with an analyst report from March 2025, although Ming-Chi Kuo has additionally offered a worth 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.

Finally, the iPhone Fold is no less than a 12 months away, and a few are understandably skeptical in regards to the market efficiency and potential of the gadget. Nonetheless, fairly a couple 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 appears to be like like, assuming it would not get canceled like a couple of different firm initiatives.