More than a rumor: Apple is apparently preparing a foldable iPhone for 2026

The most accurate Apple expert expects preparations for a foldable iPhone to begin this year, with the first devices expected to hit the market in 2026. The analyst names two known manufacturers involved, but notes that many questions remain.

Foldable Android smartphones have been around for several years, and Samsung is expected to unveil the seventh generation of the Galaxy Z Fold soon. Now, Apple is apparently also close to launching its first foldable iPhone. The usually well-informed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo writes on X that Apple manufacturer Foxconn is expected to "launch the project" this year.

Kuo expects preparations to begin in the late third or early fourth quarter of 2025. However, according to the analyst, mass production of the device is not expected to begin until the second half of next year.

The analyst writes that many aspects of the components Foxconn will use to assemble the device have not yet been finalized. This includes the hinge, which plays a crucial role in foldable smartphones and whose construction is highly complex.

The display reveals a lot

One of the few components with final specifications is the display, Kuo writes. And this fact is extremely revealing for the Apple expert, whose predictions are based on supply chain analyses. According to Kuo, the flexible screen comes from Samsung Display (SDC), which isn't too surprising given the manufacturer's expertise and the high quality of its panels in existing devices.

The supplier plans to build an annual production capacity of seven to eight million displays for the foldable iPhone, Kuo said. However, since actual production in 2026 is expected to last only a few months, full delivery capacity will likely not be reached this year.

"Premium price" expected

According to Kuo's information, Apple has ordered a total of 15 to 20 million foldable iPhones. "Based on multiple component testing, this quantity likely reflects cumulative demand over the product's two- to three-year life cycle, not just 2026," Kuo writes. The comparatively low shipment volumes indicate a possible "premium price."

The analyst points out that all plans could still change before the project officially launches. Despite the many unanswered questions, he attached a forecast he wrote four months ago to his post. In it, he also mentions a price range of $2,000 to $2,500. Thanks to its must-have status and the loyal Apple community, there should still be high demand for the first foldable iPhone, Kuo says – provided the quality meets the high expectations.

Among other things, he expects "a true AI-powered phone." Apple has so far lagged behind its competitors in this area, having to postpone plans to make Siri a similarly powerful AI assistant to Google's Gemini. Whether this will be achieved with the required high quality by fall 2026 remains to be seen, but is possible.

Comeback of Touch ID

As for the hardware, Apple should be able to deliver more easily. Kuo expects the foldable iPhone to have a fingerprint sensor (Touch ID) in the power button, as there might not be enough space for facial recognition (Face ID) in the expected ultra-thin casing. The device is expected to be 9 to 9.5 mm thick when closed, and approximately 4.5 to 4.8 mm when opened.

According to the analyst, the foldable iPhone will fold along its longitudinal axis, like a Galaxy Z Fold. The inner screen will be 7.8 inches and have no visible crease. Kuo predicts that the outer display will be 5.5 inches.

The hinge is said to be made of a combination of stainless steel and a titanium alloy, which is also used for the casing. According to Kuo, the device will draw its necessary endurance from very high-energy-density batteries, just like the iPhone Air expected in September.