Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Six years ago , Samsung take its first bold steps in bringing foldable smartphones into the mainstream , beginning a series of increasingly more advanced foldables culminating in the 2024Galaxy Z Fold 6andGalaxy Z Flip 6 . It was n’t long before Samsung ’s success in the food market invigorate its Android competitor to watch causa , each in their own elbow room . Motorola embraced the fun grapple design with theRazrandRazr Plus , feed the Z Flip a run for its money , whileGoogle ’s Pixel Foldand theOnePlus Openhave follow the more professional book - alike design of the Z Fold series .

With so many great Android foldables show up over the preceding year or so , Apple ’s absence seizure has become even more blazing .

Neverthless , rumors of Apple ’s oeuvre on folding devices go back to at least 2016,when patent filings let out the company was work on flexible organic light-emitting diode displays . Since then , there have been enough report over the years to advise that it ’s not a matter of “ if ” Apple is working on a foldable iPhone , but merely when it will appear . Apple ’s penchant for secretiveness imply we wo n’t take heed anything official from the fellowship until it has a product ready to announce , but rumors have been heating up importantly over the past year , propose the first “ iPhone Fold ” could be arrive soon . Here ’s everything we know so far .

iPhone Fold: design

For years , we had very little concrete data about the design Apple would finally apply for its first folding iPhone . Samsung already covered the two most obvious styles with the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip serial publication , but that does n’t think of Apple has to follow suit . Apple has register heaps of patents hint at designs for a foldaway iPhone , but these contain so many possibilities that it ’s anybody ’s guessing right now as to what instruction the party will go in . They ca n’t all be good .

Like Samsung , Apple may be exploring both of the traditional possibilities . According to a February 2024 report fromThe Information , Apple has been research and building prototype folding machine for at least five year or more ; not just iPhones , but also possible iPads and even a MacBook - like machine . This corroborates previous composition that Apple has been developing and test foldable OLED screenland and hinges since at least 2016 .

That early 2024 report was when Apple ’s plans began add up into focus . Citing individuals with “ lineal knowledge ” of the task , it revealed thattwo iPhone paradigm are presently in development , but suggest both would fold up widthwise in a clamshell form divisor .   Apple also reportedly approached at least one supplier in Asia for the components call for for these two foldaway iPhone models , which would come in different size . But if the constituent do not fill Apple ’s mellow standard , the foldable iPhone in development could also be strike down . Again , these are in very early stage of development , so do n’t expect to see them any fourth dimension presently ;   the earliest possible launching time frame would be at least 2026 , but later reports have suggested this may not be the form component we see first .

A foldable iPhone has always been a wild card for Apple , as its interest in such a product has fluctuated several metre over the year . chief executive officer Tim Cook supposedly asked designer and locomotive engineer about creating a foldable iPhone as too soon as 2018 . Though he responded positively to a folding iPhone demonstration with a 7 - in display , there are still headache about the technical difficulties and enduringness issues .

in the beginning , the vision that Apple had for a folding iPhone involved a showing residing on the outside when the foldable is shut , but Apple engineers have expressed strength care with that particular conception . Apple ’s industrial plan team also wanted to keep the heaviness about the same as the current iPhones , even when closed , which would be out of the question given what is currently offered for electric battery and display technology .

However , Apple is believed to have tested a few importantly different design . Early in 2020 , leaker Jon Prosser claimed tohave check a prototype twist that used a two - screen designsimilar to Microsoft’sSurface NeoandSurface Duorather than a single folding display .   However , by the following year , Prosser enounce his sources had informed him that after completing the first round of flexible joint examination , Apple would be putting all its elbow grease into a clamshell foldable iPhonewith a conception like to the Galaxy Z Flip . Prosser also claimed this iPhone would fare in more “ joyful ” colour to aim “ more mainstream customers . ”

At some point around 2020 , it seem that Apple had paused piece of work on a foldable iPhone and pivoted to a foldaway iPad instead , which would be about the sizing of an iPad miniskirt with an 8 - inch exhibit . The reasoning for this was that it could be thick than a foldable iPhone , and users would n’t have to carry this in their pocket , so it did n’t need to be as long-lasting . In early 2021 , idustry analyst Ming Chi Kuopredicted an whole new class of devices with a 7.5 to 8 - column inch displaythat would blur the line between the iPhone and the iPad . Unlike Prosser , Kuo did n’t take to have seen any examples of this gimmick .

Apple may still have two devices in the pipeline : a clamshell foldable “ iPhone Flip ” that ’s designed for fun , along with a more serious concern - class “ iPhone Fold ” or “ iPad Fold . ” However , a mass of rumors over the past several months have suggested the company is now putting all of its efforts into an book - like foldable .

The last we hear of the “ iPhone Flip ” grapple excogitation was in July 2024 , whenThe Informationreported that Apple moved it beyond the construct stage into a tangible undertaking , codenamed V68 . However , it appears that Apple put that on the back burner , as a significant shift had occurred by early 2025 , with multiple dependable reference reporting that Apple was focusing on a book - style deisgn instead . Those includeBloomberg ’s Mark Gurman , analystMing - Chi Kuoof TF International Securities , Jeff Pu of GF Securities , anddisplay manufacture psychoanalyst Ross Young .

The consensus is that the “ iPhone Fold ” will keep abreast in the footsteps of other foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold series and Pixel Fold , although we ’ll undoubtedly see Apple put its own spin on it . Reports have suggested that it will measure between 9.0 and 9.5 mm when folded and 4.5 to 4.8 mm when open , making it thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 , which comes in at 12.1 mm folded and 5.6 millimeter unfold . This aligns with Apple ’s recent pursuit of ca-ca devices that are as thin as possible , as we saw withthe “ impossibly thin ” M4 iPad Proand are expecting fromthe rumored iPhone 17 atmosphere .

One of Apple ’s principal goals for the iPhone Fold is to lead the market in durability . Apple has reportedly been test hinges for at least seven years . Its original goal was believed to be retrieve one that could survive up to 100,000 folds , which would be more than double that of most laptop hinges . However , Samsung has long since surpassed that;the Galaxy Z Fold 4 can survive at least 200,000 fold . It ’s likely Apple be after to at least take on that standard , if not outgo it .

According to Kuo , the hinge for Apple ’s first folding will combine unsullied steel and a titanium alloy . Another leakerrevealed it could also incorporate fluent metal , also known as uncrystallized metal or metal shabu , inside the flexible joint mechanism . This advanced material would entail greater durability and length of service as well as a smoother folding experience .

A2023 patentpointed to touch - sensitive control areas , includingsolid - United States Department of State button , on the open of the current iPhone pattern , as well as a folding one in the future . With this patent , Apple could contribute touch sensitivity to every side and edge of the iPhone , folding or not . The name of thispatentis “ Electronic Devices With Display And Touch Sensor Structures , ” which show that it would be commodious to tap , swipe , or just touch an iPhone to control it .

Apple hasreportedly been working on solid - state button for its traditional iPhones , so this patent partially apply to those . Howver , it   also makes a distinction between the edges that can be found on the current iPhone figure and the curved edges on a potential fold machine , which are referred to as “ sidewalls . ”

It ’s significant to note that even though Apple has been granted these new patents that show a foldable gimmick , it does n’t vouch that anything will fall of it . Still , this look like a bright growth for a potential foldaway iPhone .

iPhone Fold: display

In 2016 , LG began mass - producing foldable exhibit , designate it planned to supply them to several companies , include Apple . That notion gained more steam in late 2017 when sources claimedApple and LG had actively partneredto rise specific foldaway display technology for a future iPhone — a partnership that ’s still on-going .

By 2020 , Apple and Samsung Display had reportedlysigned a dealin which the display maker would supply a “ enceinte figure ” of foldaway presentation sampling over a year to be used for testing folding iPhone prototypes .

However , Apple ’s supplying chain was send so many different style of show for essay that it was unmanageable to blast down a terminal design until more late written report have pointed to a most - settle pattern .

Today , multiple source agree that we can look the folding iPhone to have an internal display that measures around 7.8 column inch when open , plus a fully operative 5.5 - inch cover display that can be used when the equipment is pen up shut . Those dimension rougly equate to other foldables ; the Galaxy Z Fold 6 displays are 7.6 and 6.3 inch , the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is 8.0 and 6.3 inches , and the OnePlus Open comes in at 7.82 and 6.31 inches .

There ’s no final word on the width and meridian of the iPhone Fold , and it ’s hard to draw decision from only diagonal measurements . Some leaker have pointed to resolutions of 2713 x 1920 for the inner display and 2088 x 1422 for the screening display , but these would result in a somewhat unusual 7:5 aspect proportion ; other reports have suggested the inner display will be 4:3 . By   compare , other leading foldables use a 20:9 aspect ratio for their outer filmdom and virtually straight inside show .

Apple ’s engineers are also trying to do away with the possibility of a crease that constitute in the centre of the display , which is a bountiful trouble for pretty much every folding on the food market mighty now . OnePlus has come the close to eliminating it , but Apple wants it gone entirely .

Multiple sources claim that Apple wo n’t be satisfied with anything less than a crease - free display . Over the year , this has often been cited as one of the reasons we do n’t already have an iPhone Fold ; the engineering simply has n’t been ready until now . In addition to advanced OLED and hinge technology , Apple has also file an challenging curing of patent for ego - cure screens that use elastomer or polymer that could repair minor scratches . However , like most patents we would n’t calculate on this one twist into anything real mighty away .

Apple also desire to make it so that the flexible joint can allow for a display that opens up completely flat , since it reportedly designate to allow the Apple Pencil to be used with the iPhone Fold .

Apple is reportedly pulling out all the stop , but wo n’t release its first foldaway iPhone until it can create a perfect , crease - free display .

iPhone Fold: cameras and other specs

While report of the innovation and display have begun to gel into something that finally seems like a genuine product , they ’re much vaguer on the internal eyeglasses .

camera in paritcular remain an undefended question . Kuo has predicted a dual - lens rear camera system , simlar to what ’s used on Apple ’s standard iPhone models , rather than the triplex - lens system scheme of the iPhone Pro . This suggest that Apple will dramatise a like strategy to most other foldable manufacturers , saving its best cameras for its non - foldaway agiotage flagships . In the case of the iPhone Fold , Apple is belike depend to keep costs down and void adding the special bulk of a telephotograph lense .

The front facing camera could take up under - screen technology , but that ’s far from a sure thing , as there have been conflicting reports that point to a hole - biff camera cutout or else . In either case , it ’s expected to forego Face ID — one of the things that ’s arguably held back under - display cameras on Apple ’s other iPhones — take over a Touch ID sensor in the side button instead , exchangeable to theiPad AirandiPad mini . That ’s not surprising , since a foldable iPhone would ask two set of Face ID sensors to make the feature process seamlessly whether open or closed . A single side Touch ID push can attend to both design .

While there ’s no Logos on what poker chip will power the iPhone Fold , it ’s a good bet that it will adopt the late A - series chip of its era . With a prognosticate launching in late 2026 or early 2027 , that ’s likely to bethe same A20 chip that will go into the iPhone 18 lineup .

iPhone Fold: software

While most of the leak and account have focus on the hardware and plan of a folding iPhone , Apple is also likely difficult at workplace on the software side of things . Neither iOS nor iPadOS , as they live today , will easily interpret to a foldable designing .

Given Apple ’s punctilious attention to user experience , the company is likely already convulse around ideas for a foldable version of its mobile operating organization . Depending on what focussing the iPhone Fold goes , we might see an entirely new derivative of iOS appearing on it .

Rumored changes issue forth iniOS 19andiPadOS 19could help pave the way for the iPhone Fold . While unsubstantiated , one interesting rumour is that Apple plan to bringfull external show support to iOS 19 , including a Stage Manager interface .

iPhone Fold: release date

With Apple reportedly testing folding iPhone designs over the preceding several years , it ’s not surprising we ’ve had more than a few false commencement . Otherwise reliable analysts have often been led to believe it ’s just around the corner , only for those day of the month to arrive and go with no sign of the mythic iPhone Fold or iPhone Flip .

A few year ago , analyst and leaker predicted a foldaway iPhone would make it by 2021,which eventually became 2022,and then 2023 .

In 2023 , exhibit analyst Ross Young , who has a pretty solid racetrack phonograph recording when it comes to anything concerning screen technology , shared that he ’d been told by rootage in the supply chain that a foldable iPhone wo n’t be appearing before 2025 , and that ’s a very preliminary estimate . “ The company does not come along to be in a haste to enter the foldable smartphone market , and it may even take longer than that , ” Young noted in hisFebruary 2022 foldable / rollable display despatch and technology account . Kuo corroborated this timeline a few months after .

While 2025 seems a bit optimistic , the report have gained enough steam for us to actually believe that the iPhone Fold could arrive in late 2026 or early 2027 . It ’s no longer one or two random analyst saying this , but even Bloomberg ’s Mark Gurman andthe Wall Street Journal ’s Aaron Tilley . While there are minor variations in this timeline , it ’s the most well - corroborated idea we ’ve ever seen . It ’s also notable that 2027 would stand for the 20th day of remembrance of the iPhone .

Sadly , do n’t expect this one to hail cheap . There ’s remarkable consensus among analysts that the iPhone Fold will be somewhere between $ 2,000 and $ 2,500 , make it the most expensive iPhone ever . In addition to the cost of enquiry , maturation , and engineering of its first foldable , some analyst consider Apple want to test the waters and avoid disrupt its iPhone Pro lineup too much .

Still , that monetary value is n’t out of line with vie foldables . Apple also is n’t expecting the first - multiplication iPhone Fold to be a hit ; sources say the caller is only place for 3 to 5 million units in the launching yr , potentially growing to 20 million only after the second - generation model arrive . For comparability , Apple sells well over 200 million iPhones each year , but all current foldable headphone combined only add up to around 19.3 million in social unit cut-rate sale , so the iPhone Fold would still represent a healthy composition of that pie .