Apple’s first foldable iPhone should arrive around the end of 2026 or early 2027 with a price of US$2,000-$2,500, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
“Leveraging the iPhone’s status as a must-have device and Apple’s loyal fanbase, it’s expected to generate strong replacement demand—despite the premium price—provided quality meets expectations,” he writes.
Here are what Kuo expects to see as the hardware specs in an “iPhone Fold”:
° Touch ID returns as a side button, as Face ID may be absent due to thickness and internal space constraints.
° The foldable iPhone will have a book-style design, featuring an approximately 7.8-inch crease-free inner display and an approximately 5.5-inch outer display.
° The rear camera features a dual-lens setup, with one front-facing camera available in both folded and unfolded states.
° It will measure 9–9.5mm thick when folded and 4.5–4.8mm when unfolded.
° The hinge will combine stainless steel and titanium alloy, while the casing opts for titanium alloy.
° It will use the same high-density battery cells as the ultra-thin iPhone 17.
But can an iPhone Fold save the torpid foldable smartphone market? Foldable smartphone displays declined year-over-year (Y/Y) for the first time in the third quarter of 2024, and 2025 sales are also expected to be down, according to a DSCC report. Can an “iPhone Fold” reignite sales of foldable smartphones?
DSCC says foldable smartphone adoption is below expectations as Samsung remains regionally concentrated, Chinese brands are pulling back, and the market remains dominated by just two brands. The research group adds that there’s reason for optimism with Apple introduce a foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026. (Personally, I remain skeptical that the company will ever introduce a foldable smartphone.) In addition, DSCC expects more multi-fold models coming in 2026 and the first slidable laptop in 2025.
From the report: Although the market has stalled and will decline for the first time on a panel procurement basis in 2025, there is reason for optimism. Apple is expected to enter the foldable market in 2H’26 and given their dominant position in flagship smartphones could generate significant growth for the foldable smartphone market. Any improvement in form factor, functionality, use cases, durability, etc. could drive new demand for this market. As a result, 2026 is expected to be a record year for foldables with over 30% growth and with over 20% growth projected for 2027 and 2028 as well. In addition, we expect at least one other brand to adopt a tri-fold in 2026 and expect to see the first slidable laptop in 2025 with more models coming in 2026.
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