Apple is planning to launch a foldable iPhone as early as 2026, according to a new report, which would mark the first new variant of the company’s most popular product since 2020’s ill-fated iPhone Mini.
Citing two people with direct knowledge of the plans, the report The information indicates that the phone would fold to its full width, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or an older flip phone. If a foldable iPhone does indeed come out in 2026, it would come seven years after Samsung’s first effort in the category.
A rendering created by Behance graphic designer Michal Dufka, showing what a potential foldable iPhone could look like.Credit: behance.net/MichalDufkaDesign
Sources cited in the new report said Apple’s foldable iPhone has moved from the ideation stage to the design stage, and the company has reached out to suppliers in Asia to manufacture components. Apple is also planning a camera upgrade for the same year that would allow users to control the aperture size with a mechanical system, potentially creating a depth-of-field effect.
Of course, that could all change in the next couple of years. But before we see a possible foldable iPhone in 2026, Apple will focus on AI features and new cameras in this year’s iPhone 16, followed by the iPhone 17 lineup in 2025, which is expected to introduce an extremely thin “Slim” iPhone model, replacing the iPhone Plus. Additionally, Apple just released its first extended reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, this year.
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Since 2019, the foldable phone category has been growing steadily. Samsung models dominate in the West, but face competition from Google (with the Pixel Fold, which is not yet officially released in Australia) and Lenovo’s Motorola brand. In China, the competition is much tougher, with Samsung competing with local manufacturers Honor and Huawei.
According to a May report from Counterpoint Research, the global foldable smartphone market grew 49% in the first quarter compared to a year earlier, its highest growth rate in six quarters. Huawei took the top spot for the first time, overtaking Samsung. By 2026, Apple may be entering a much more established market, which is comfortable territory for the iPhone maker.
Samsung’s latest foldable phones, the Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, were announced earlier this month and will launch on July 31 for $2,750 and $1,800, respectively. Like the upcoming iPhone 16, they come with a host of built-in AI features that let you generate images, summarize web pages, or access instant translations.