iPhone Fold: launch date, price, huge battery and everything we know

For years, rumors have been circulating that Apple is working hard on a foldable smartphone. iPhonenicknamed the iPhone Fold. Over the last year, numerous leaks have suggested that it could actually be released in 2026. The latest rumor, coming from a leaker on Weibo, suggests that Apple’s first foldable will have a 5,500 mAh battery, which would make it the largest battery of any iPhone, surpassing the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 5,088 mAh capacity.

But most of the curiosity has focused on the appearance of Apple’s foldable mystery. Recently, an Apple fan made a 3D printed mockup for the possible design of an Apple book-style foldable, looking more like a Microsoft Surface Duo merged with a iPhone 17 Pro than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Pixel 10 Pro foldable. In other words, a vision of two separate iPhone screens linked together rather than one continuous, foldable screen.

It’s an interesting proposition given rumors of Apple’s efforts to reduce the seam where a foldable screen folds. The one in the iPhone Fold is rumored to have few to no creases, according to a recent report. report by the Chinese publication UDN. Screen creases, especially on early foldable phones, have long annoyed some consumers and reviewers. And even though the crease on newer foldables seems much shallower, it’s still there. The new one from Samsung Galaxy Z tri-fold has two screen folds, one for each of its hinges. It would be a major breakthrough if Apple actually found a way to fold a screen in half without leaving a crease.

We’ve yet to hear any official word on a foldable iPhone from Apple.

Foldable phones make up a tiny fraction of all phones sold worldwide. CNET found that 64% of people surveyed said they didn’t want a foldable phone. But those numbers could change if Apple sold a foldable iPhone. Analysts at IDC predict 30% year-over-year growth if Apple launches a foldable iPhone in 2026.

Apple launched the iPhone17 series with the new super-thin iPhoneAir in September. Considering all the engineering required to cram cameras and components into the top half of the Air, some have theorized that the device is a stepping stone towards a foldable, which could take advantage of the Air’s internal design.

A lot of hope And waiting Apple has been asked to release one, and if the rumors are correct, we won’t have to wait much longer for the company to do so.

Watch this: iPhone Flip: what Apple’s foldable future could look like

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History of the iPhone Fold

Rumors suggest that Apple is developing a book-style foldable model like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Years ago, in 2017, people predicted that a foldable iPhone could launch in the near future in 2020 – which didn’t happen. Analysts and leakers have been pushing back the release date ever since, and rumors and wishlists persist as phone fans keep their hopes alive. With no details confirmed by Apple, here’s everything we know so far about the company’s future foray into the foldable sector.

A new patent granted to Apple in July 2024, filed years ago, shows how long the company has been working on a foldable iPhone. Kuo’s report in early March indicated that an Apple foldable could launch in late 2026, with a 7.8-inch crease-free interior display and a 5.5-inch exterior display.

As a result, Kuo estimates the price would be in line with other similar foldable devices, at between $2,000 and $2,500. Despite the high price, it says expected shipments are 3 million to 5 million devices, which is a confident estimate given that only 19.3 foldable devices were sold in 2024, market research firm IDC reported.

Although many reports have focused on the company’s struggles to remove the crease from the internal foldable screen, Apple’s patent indicates that development has been underway for some time. Creases have been plaguing foldable phones since their introduction in 2020, and although the newer Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 have reduced the crease, it is still visible and noticeable.

By mid-2024, market analysts at TrendForce estimated that display crease issues could push an Apple foldable back until 2027, according to 9to5Mac. Previous rumors indicated that Apple might not launch its own flexible screen device until 2025, and Samsung hasn’t let phone fans forget that by launching an app that will let Apple phone owners have a Z Fold experience by placing two iPhones side by side.

Learn more: I visited Samsung’s site to see if foldable phones are really the future

iPhone 2026 range

There’s no guarantee as to which phones Apple will launch during its usual September window, but the safest bet is on another series of flat phones, which we expect to be the iPhone 18 series. But what else is there besides the usual lineup?

There could be an iPhone Air 2, although rumors are conflicting on whether to expect one next year or not. There has been much more evidence in favor of an iPhone Fold, although it is still unclear whether it will be released in 2026 or in subsequent years. If the iPhone Fold launches next year, other rumors suggest a clamshell device has been prioritized and could come first – given reports that Apple is looking for a book-style foldable, we might get one too.

In mid-January, MacRumors reportedly saw a research note from analyst Jeff Pu suggesting that the iPhone Fold would pack 12GB of memory, just like the entire iPhone 18 lineup. Apple never discloses how much RAM is included in its phones, but specs sites like GSMArena have reported that the standard iPhone 17 has 8GB of RAM, while the rest of the series (iPhone Air, 17 Pro, and Pro Max) have all 12 GB. If accurate, that means Apple doesn’t think its foldable will need more memory than its standard flat phones: it will have more screen real estate, but potentially no better hardware than its iPhone 18 siblings.

It’s also interesting to see the standard iPhone 18 pack 12GB of memory, as the RAM shortage is expected to drive up prices for phones released in 2026. Apple may be willing to pay the price for a higher-spec iPhone 18 base model, or perhaps it will pass those costs on to the consumer with a price hike.

iPhone Fold or iPhone Air 2?

It’s possible we’ll get an iPhone Fold next year, which is rumored to launch in 2026 at the earliest, but it could also be released in 2027 or later. It’s worth noting that analysts and rumor mills had predicted a foldable iPhone release as early as 2022, so rolling prospective launch windows don’t provide confidence that we’ll necessarily see the device released next year. Given Samsung’s six-year head start in manufacturing foldable products, Apple doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to release one.

While the iPhone Air was released alongside the iPhone 17 handsets, there are conflicting rumors about whether we’ll see an iPhone Air 2 in 2026. A recent report from The Information states that Apple is delaying the release of the next version of the iPhone, citing people familiar with the matter. This follows rumors that disappointing post-launch sales of the iPhone Air led Apple to cut production, although even that claim was denounced by TD Cowen, according to a memo from the investment research firm seen by AppleInsider that claimed the company would continue to produce the slim phone. The news article has been edited to indicate that the delay could be caused by engineers reconsidering the Air’s design so that it can support a second rear camera.

All of this casts doubt on whether we’ll get an iPhone Air 2 next year, but there isn’t enough evidence yet to categorically rule out the possibility.

iPhone Fold specifications

There are no confirmed specifications for the iPhone Fold, as Apple hasn’t even confirmed its existence or release. Since we don’t have a year of planned release, we can’t really predict what kind of internal specs the iPhone Fold will have – likely, Apple will want its most powerful A-series chip to run it, as well as enough RAM to handle two or three screens (depending on whether it folds inwards or outwards and needs a dedicated exterior display).

We have some predictions for other specs, but only for the book-style Fold (not the clamshell). In March, analyst Kuo predicted that the larger Fold could have a 5.5-inch exterior display and a 7.8-inch interior display. When folded it will be 9 to 9.5 mm thick and when unfolded 4.5 to 4.8 mm. A front camera will be available whether the phone is folded or unfolded, while it will also have two rear cameras.

Kuo predicted that the device will use the same high-density battery cells used in what he then called the “ultra-thin iPhone 17,” which is presumably the iPhone Air. But that thickness of trim means the foldable can forgo Face ID, so the device can use Touch ID in a side button.

Some rumors regarding the hardware have emerged. In January, an analyst note seen by MacRumors suggested that Apple’s foldable could launch with 12GB of RAM, the same amount as last year. Galaxy Z Fold 7the starting configuration. This could mean that Apple doesn’t need a lot of memory to handle multiple displays or that it isn’t banking on big AI features that can eat up a lot of RAM.

We finally have a prediction on the iPhone Fold’s battery, with Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digi tal announcing that it will have a capacity of 5,500 mAh, as first reported by 9to5Mac. That’s significantly bigger than the batteries in some other foldable devices — for example, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a capacity of 4,400 mAh — but Samsung has been in the foldable game for so many years that it’s bound to have increased efficiency, likely in an effort to reduce the thickness of its devices. Still, if the Weibo leak is true, it will be the largest battery ever installed in an Apple handset. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 5,088 mAh battery.

iPhone Fold release date

Apple has neither confirmed the iPhone Fold nor announced a proper release date. Analysts and rumors predict that the foldable could release in 2026 or be pushed back to next year.

As for timing, since the iPhone Air was released alongside the iPhone 17 models, the Fold could accompany the iPhone 18 series. But since Apple released the iPhone 16E earlier this year, well ahead of the September window for releasing its mainline iPhone, the company could do the same with the iPhone 17E in 2026. Apple could even delay the launch of the standard iPhone 18 to spring 2027 to make room for the iPhone Fold at Apple’s September 2026 launch, according to a report from ET News. Since Samsung is releasing its regular and foldable phone releases at Unpacked events months apart, Apple could do the same.

What Apple’s new patent says about the iPhone Flip

After years of rumors that Apple was working on foldable phones, a patent was finally granted to the company, confirming that it was working on a foldable iPhone. The 22-page patent (PDF), simply titled “Electronic Devices with Durable Foldable Displays,” was filed in November 2021 and granted on July 16, 2024.

Unfortunately for iPhone folding hopefuls, the patent doesn’t offer much insight into what an iPhone Flip might look like. Most pages show figures depicting cross sections of potential displays that fold around a hinge, but not the device they fold around.

There are some deeper details in the patent text that hint at potential design choices Apple could make, such as a hinge that holds the screen flat when unfolded but would allow the screen to “bend slightly around the axis of curvature when the electronic device is shaken when dropped.”

It’s important to note that all evidence shows that Apple is working on a foldable iPhone, but the patent applies broadly to foldable displays in general – namely, some diagrams describe a device that “may be a cell phone, tablet, laptop, wristwatch or other wearable device, television, stand-alone computer display or other monitor” or displays as varied as on vehicles, in kiosks, in media players or other electronic equipment.

The rest of the patent describes what an Apple device with a foldable screen can have and categorically lists things like batteries and wireless charging, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, LED or LCD displays, microphones and capacitive sensors, haptics, and more. There is explicit mention of a 180-degree, or fully flat, foldable screen, which follows most other foldable screens. Presumably, Apple isn’t going to leapfrog the competition by following Samsung’s concept displays we saw at CES that expand to nearly 360 degrees.

Two foldable iPhone Flips?

Hopes for the foldable iPhone will at least be buoyed by the fact that Apple is apparently continuing to tinker with an iPhone Flip design. The company is reportedly working on two sizes of foldable iPhones: a book-style model and a clamshell model, according to an old report from The Information, although that may be contradicted by a more recent report from the same site suggesting Apple had opted for the latter for a smaller device. This matches previous rumors suggesting that the iPhone Flip would be in a clamshell form factor similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series or the Motorola Razr Ultra.

It appears Apple is struggling to meet its lofty expectations: The company’s design team wants the iPhone Flip to be half as thin as current iPhone models and to have screens on the exterior that are visible when the device is folded, according to the report.

Development of the iPhone Flip was halted around 2020, the old report noted, in order to focus on a new project, a foldable iPad. This device would have an 8-inch screen, about the size of the iPad Mini. The foldable tablet was supposed to have less stringent requirements for durability and thickness, as it wouldn’t need to fit in pockets like an iPhone Flip. Apple was still working on ways to reduce the crease in the middle of the foldable screen and make the iPad lie completely flat.

Release date: iPhone Flip could launch in 2027

The last indications for the iPhone Flip release date came back in June, when analyst Kuo suggested that production could start in 2026 and that the phones would be released that year. This follows Kuo’s earlier prediction in March that the company could launch a crease-free foldable by the end of 2026. Additionally, it would likely be a book-style foldable with a 7.8-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external screen, which goes against other predictions anticipating a clamshell-style foldable.

It’s possible that these timeline predictions apply to one or the other or, due to the vague nature of the rumors, even both – that is, Apple could be working on both a book-style and clamshell-style foldable, although it’s less clear whether the release date expectations would be interchangeable or whether Apple would stagger their release.

It’s been an open secret for years that Apple has been working on a foldable iPhone. The company has been filing patents for foldable technologies for nearly a decade, and while there’s no guarantee that a patent will come out even after all this research (remember AirPower?), there’s always been buzz and possible release dates have been teased for years – even if they’re still not solid enough to get excited about.

Early rumors pointed to 2021 as a potential target date, but the year has passed with no foldable iPhone in sight. A March 2021 report from longtime analyst Kuo (via MacRumors) suggested that 2023 might be more realistic (even though that year has passed). According to Kuo, Apple still needs to resolve technology and mass production issues before bringing a device like this to market, hence the wait. Speculation from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman later in 2021 aligned with Kuo’s predictions: in his Power On newsletter, Gurman said the foldable iPhone might not arrive for two to three years.

Since then, new rumors suggest an even later release. Reliable display analyst Ross Young said in February 2024 that the foldable iPhone had been pushed back to 2025, and Kuo reaffirmed his planned release window in an April 2022 tweet.

“Apple could launch its first foldable product no earlier than 2025, which could be a foldable iPad or a hybrid of iPad and iPhone,” Kuo wrote in the tweet.

Another rumor, first noticed by MacRumors in February 2024 by Weibo-based blogger Fixed Focus Digital, suggested that the foldable iPhone project was being delayed for the foreseeable future. The problem ? Apple, which is reportedly using Samsung foldable panels for its iPhone Flip’s screen, was unhappy with the screens’ performance after a few days of testing.

This is echoed by the most recent estimate from market analysts at TrendForce, reported in 9to5Mac, which predicted that an Apple foldable might not come to market until 2027 at the earliest. For what? Apple’s strict reliability requirements and the phone’s screen crease. But Kuo’s most recent predictions from March 2025 explicitly called for a crease-free foldable display, suggesting that Apple might have cleared that hurdle — if all these rumors are to be believed, of course.

Learn more: Best foldable phones for 2025

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04:40

Design: what will the foldable iPhone look like?

A 2021 Bloomberg report indicated that Apple already had a working prototype of a foldable screen for iPhone. Although it wasn’t a working model, it was a step forward from a patent – ​​which, up until then, was all we’d seen.

Apple appears to have filed every patent available for foldable displays, including an origami-style foldable display, a flip display, and even a wraparound display. We don’t know which one will make the final cut, but Kuo and Bloomberg seem to agree that the current prototype is more of a traditional fold-out design.

Unlike Microsoft’s Surface Duo, which has hinges on the outside, Apple’s would have a continuous screen with a hidden hinge mechanism like the Galaxy Fold.

Apple leaker Jon Prosser reported in early 2021 that the iPhone Flip would likely use a clamshell design and come in several “fun colors.” Between the bright pastels of the iPhone 15 and Plus and the sleeker deep blue of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, a range of fun colors for Apple’s first foldable device is definitely a possibility.

YouTuber ConceptsiPhone also gave us a glimpse of what the iPhone Flip could look like with concept art of the foldable iPhone in blue, red, gold, and green colors.

In March 2025, analyst Kuo had some very specific but not clamshell predictions: Apple would launch a book-style foldable with a 5.5-inch exterior screen that would unfold to have a 7.8-inch internal screen, and would measure 4.5 to 4.8 mm when unfolded but 9 to 9.5 mm thick. It would have the same high-density battery cells as the “ultra-thin iPhone 17” and a stainless steel and titanium alloy hinge (a preferred material in Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 2).

According to Kuo’s predictions, the foldable will have two rear cameras and a front camera on the external and internal displays. More interestingly, Kuo also expects Apple’s book-style foldable to see the return of Touch ID as a side button, as Face ID could be left out due to space constraints – likely for Apple’s sensor lineup. e depth of field and cameras necessary for the technology.

Obstacles: what is still standing in the way of Apple?

Samsung and others tested the waters, but Apple learned from the problems of their foldable devices and understood how they would be used.

One of these pain points is the crease. Many current cover materials, including the mix of glass and plastic that Samsung uses for the Z Fold and Z Flip, have a visible crease when unfolded to full screen. To avoid it, Apple would probably have to wait until Corning, Apple’s glass supplier, creates some sort of foldable version of its Ceramic Shield display. The company is already working on a foldable glass but has not announced a launch date.

Kuo tweeted in April 2022 that Apple was testing a foldable OLED display. Korean tech news site The Elec also reported that Apple is working with LG to develop a foldable OLED panel.

Cost: Foldable phones aren’t cheap

Price is another major issue for these types of devices. Although Samsung still offers the most affordable foldable phone with the clamshell Motorola Razr At $700, most other products in the category are book-style foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which cost about twice the price of most flagship phones. We wouldn’t expect a foldable iPhone to be cheaper than its competitors. Apple’s foldable needs to be consistent with current foldable and non-foldable models to be able to compete with other brands and entice iPhone users to ditch their single-screen devices and pay more for a foldable.

Analyst Kuo predicted that a book-style foldable iPhone available in 2026 could cost between $2,000 and $2,500, as it “is expected to generate strong replacement demand, despite the high price, the quality delivered meets expectations.”

A report last year found that half of U.S. consumers are interested in purchasing a foldable phone, although Apple customers are slightly less willing to take the plunge than Samsung or LG users. Perhaps the “Apple effect” will change these statistics if and when a foldable iPhone becomes a reality.