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Foldable phones have been around for years, but Apple has so far only managed to stay on the sidelines and watch its rivals compete. That may change soon.
As Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports, Apple is set to launch its first foldable in 2026. Suppliers have already started working on the new device, and manufacturing is expected to ramp up early next year. If everything goes to plan, the product may be announced next fall.
The foldable iPhone is expected to adopt Samsung's book-like clamshell design. It will open up to take the shape of a tablet and have four cameras—two on the front and two at the back.
According to Gurman, the foldable won't have a SIM card slot or Face ID. The former isn't surprising, since iPhone 14 and later have been eSIM-only in the US. But iPhones have had Face ID since 2017's iPhone X; the last iPhone to use fingerprint verification was 2022's iPhone SE.
Apple will bring Touch ID back for the foldable, Gurman says. Like on the iPad, the sensor could be placed on the sides or on top, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported earlier this year.
According to Gurman, another addition would be the C2 modem. Apple's iPhones have long relied on modems from Intel and Qualcomm for cellular connectivity, but that changed last year, when Apple introduced its own C1 modem with the iPhone 16e. The iPhone 17 is expected to come with the same modem next month, but the foldable may receive an upgrade next year.
Apple's also looking to perfect the display. Gurman says the company may use the iPhone's in-cell touch screen to avoid the air gaps and prominent crease that on-screen touch screens could have.
All of these might make the first foldable iPhone an expensive purchase. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, it could start at $2,000, the same as Samsung's flagship Galaxy Z Fold 7.