Apple might release a foldable iPhone in 2026
Image: @FibNewtonian/X
For Apple fans who have been waiting years for a foldable device, there seems to be a faint light at the end of this tunnel.
According to Apple tracker 9To5Mac, Apple could begin production of a 20.3-inch folding device next year, followed by a foldable iPhone in 2026.
“Apple is ramping up its work on foldable devices, according to a new investor note seen by 9to5Mac. The report, from Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, says that Apple will begin mass production of a 20.3-inch foldable device in late 2025, followed by a foldable iPhone in late 2026,” the report said.
The Information, in February, reported that Apple is “actively working on prototypes” for at least two clamshell iPhones but will not be going into production before 2025.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in March that the tech giant was working on a 20.3-inch foldable MacBook and was expected to enter mass production in 2027.
Ross Young, a display supply chain analyst, also reported on the foldable device having a 2026/2027 release. Additionally, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had said that Apple is “exploring a dual-screen, foldable MacBook/iPad hybrid.”
According to Pu, Apple appears to have ramped up its efforts on foldable devices. The report suggests that there is a growing presence of Apple’s foldable device initiatives.
Pu speculates that Apple’s foray into foldable devices would mark a significant addition to its product portfolio, specifically targeting the “ultra-high-end market.” According to 9To5Mac, Apple is reportedly contemplating two potential screen sizes for its foldable iPhone — 7.9 inches and 8.3 inches.
Right now, Apple is the only big name in the consumer tech industry without a foldable offering — in the smartphone segment or otherwise. 9To5Mac also cautioned that no other source has corroborated this timeline, so it should be taken with a pinch of salt.
The foldable smartphone market saw a 64% annual increase in the first quarter of 2023 when the overall smartphone market saw a 14.2% year-on-year decline, according to Counterpoint Research.
Stellar Market Research in a February 2024 report, said that the foldable smartphone market reached a valuation of $27.7 billion in 2023. Projections indicate that the total revenue for Global Foldable Smartphones is poised for substantial growth, with an anticipated Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 24.9% from 2024 to 2030. This trajectory could lead to a market value nearing $131.34 billion by 2030.