We’ve been reporting on the rumored “coming soon” launch of a foldable iPhone for years. There have been strong and reliable rumors of a foldable iPhone being just two years away dating as far back as 2018, at least. Back then, reliable reports from the likes of CNBC said Apple was going to have a folding iPhone on the market in 2020.
That became 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025… and now it’s scheduled to land in 2026 at the earliest.
So, while the rumors and reports from parts suppliers and analysts are heating up and seem to be more solid than ever, we would advise even more caution and skepticism than usual with Apple rumors. Having said that, here’s what the current rumors suggest about the release of a folding iPhone.
Folding iPhone: Release date
According to a series of reports, the major design and specs of Apple’s first folding phone are due to be finalized in the middle of 2025, with production targeted for late 2026. That would mean a launch late in 2026 or early 2027. So far, this timeline has been suggested by several sources, including The Information, The Wall Street Journal, and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The phone is expected to be complex and expensive to manufacture, so production volume will likely be very limited at first. A second model in late 2027 should see higher production numbers.
Folding iPhone: Design
In 2024, The Information reported that Apple had made a couple of prototype “clamshell” flip-phone designs, where the top and bottom of the phone fold to meet. More recent rumors in 2025 from Digital Chat Station on Weibo and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggest a “book” style fold, with a vertical fold as the left and right sides fold to meet each other. This is a similar style to the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold.
The hinge is said to be a titanium alloy, with a stainless steel and titanium body. Apple has received several patents for hinge designs, and it’s unclear which the company will use in the final design.
The folding iPhone could be a similar size to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Luke Baker
Folding iPhone: Size and dimensions
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported on the folding iPhone’s set of proposed design details. He says the book-style iPhone will have a 7.8-inch inside display when unfolded, and a 5.5-inch outer display. Kuo says Apple won’t be satisfied until the phone’s display is completely crease-free when opened.
The folding phone is said to be at most 9.5mm thick when folded and 4.5mm when unfolded. For comparison, an iPhone 16 Pro Max is 8.5mm thick, and the thinnest iPhone of all time was the iPhone 6 at 6.9mm. The upcoming iPhone 17 Air is expected to be around 6mm thick and possibly as thin as 5.5mm.
Folding iPhone: Specs and features
We don’t know what processor the folding iPhone will contain, but if it launches in 2026 as rumored, it will probably feature an A20 or A20 Pro—some variant of the processor found in the iPhone 18.
We expect most iPhones to use Apple’s own cellular modem and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chips by that time as well. They may even be integrated into the main system-on-chip.
The folding iPhone will reportedly have a Touch ID-enabled power button rather than Face ID.
IDG
Due to the very thin nature of the foldable iPhone, and the need for different front-facing cameras when folded up or unfolded, it will reportedly lack Face ID. Instead, Touch ID will be incorporated into the side button much as it is on the iPad Air and mini.
There will reportedly be two rear cameras (likely a standard wide and ultrawide) and two front-facing cameras, one for when the iPhone is folded closed and one for when it’s open.
Folding iPhone: Price
Expect the folding iPhone to be a very high-end, ultra-premium model. The very first release is said to cost $2,000 or more.
Author: Jason Cross, Senior Editor, Macworld
Jason has written about technology for more than 25 years - first in the gaming press, then focusing on enthusiast PCs and general technology. He enjoys learning how complicated technology works and explaining it in a way anyone can understand.