There's been a lot of speculation about Apple's first foldable phone. It's about six years too late to the party, as Samsung launched its first foldable back in 2019, and many Chinese OEMs have come out with their own contenders ever since. However, Apple's chosen to take its time and while it hasn't confirmed anything yet, many analysts are of the view that the first foldable iPhone may be released in 2026.
Apple reportedly doesn't want its foldable iPhone to be just another foldable phone. Apparently it's working hard to “eliminate the create at all costs.” If it succeeds in doing that, Apple fans would certainly forgive it for the delay, but precisely how much it can influence this fundamental characteristic of foldable phones remains to be seen.
According to Mark Gurman, who's highly regarded for his insights into Apple, the Cupertino company will launch its first foldable phone in 2026. The design would reportedly be like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, meaning that it's going to have a cover display that makes it look like a conventional phone but it opens up to reveal a book-style foldable internal display.
Another recent report claimed that the first foldable iPhone will have a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.8-inch internal display. For the sake of comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a 6.3-inch cover and 7.6-inch foldable display.
Gurman claims that Apple's focus is on ensuring that the device is thin and easy to handle. So we may see the first foldable iPhone feature its own C1 modem, the lack of a SIM tray to save space, and high-density battery to ensure optimal thinness when the device is folded.
Lastly, Apple's desire to eliminate the crease come what may, is understandable. It doesn't want to create something that would be viewed as just another foldable. We've seen other manufacturers significantly minimize the crease on their foldable phones, so it's within the realm of possibility, but don't count on a completely crease-free foldable phone just yet.
As for pricing, it's claimed that Apple would charge a premium over the rival from Samsung, with one estimate suggesting that the foldable iPhone may cost 20% more than the Galaxy Z Fold 8. No word as yet what changes Samsung's got planned for its 2026 foldable, but we may get a sense of what's to come with this year's Galaxy Z Fold 7.
