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Apple is reportedly still on course to release its first foldable iPhone, with mass production expected to begin in the summer of 2026. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, initial assembly could kick off as early as the final quarter of 2025, with Samsung Display supplying the folding panels and Foxconn taking on assembly duties.
While the company has yet to confirm any official details, consistent reports suggest the device will feature a 7.8-inch internal display and a smaller 5.5-inch external screen, effectively combining to offer a similar screen real estate to the iPad mini. When unfolded, the foldable iPhone is said to be around 4.5mm thick.
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Other rumours include the device ditching Face ID in favour of a side-mounted Touch ID sensor and the long-awaited under-display front camera. The chassis is expected to be made from a titanium alloy that Apple might be calling ‘Liquid Metal‘, while dual rear cameras and a next-generation A-series chip—potentially the A20—round out the rumoured specs.
Estimates suggest Apple has ordered between 15 to 20 million units for a multi-year product cycle, although initial shipments in 2026 could be significantly lower, hovering around 3 to 5 million units. Pricing, as ever with Apple’s more experimental hardware, won’t be for the faint-hearted, with current predictions ranging anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000.
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While foldable phones are nothing new (see the Samsung Z Fold, which is now on its 7th iteration), Apple’s late entry is likely to come with the usual fanfare, along with the expectation that they’ve spent the extra time ironing out the creases, quite literally.
The real test will be whether Apple can price it correctly to attract enough interest. Vision Pro was, by all accounts, the most advanced VR headset ever made and theoretically blew the competition out of the water. But the market was still too niche, and the price astronomical.
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Foldable phones are more mainstream than VR but they still capture a tiny percentage of the overall smartphone market. So Apple has to be careful not to scare people off with a wild price tag. That being said, a foldable iPhone has all the potential to become the most popular folding phone out there. It’s an intriguing one for sure.
Cover image: Apple Insider Forums
