Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to arrive in fall 2026, ending more than a decade of patents, prototypes, and supply chain speculation. The device — widely referred to as the iPhone Fold — is set to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Apple has not officially confirmed any details, but a dense trail of verified supply chain data, analyst notes, and leaked CAD renders has filled in much of the picture.
At its core, the iPhone Fold is a book-style foldable — it opens horizontally, like a small book, to reveal an inner display roughly the size of an iPad mini. When folded shut, it operates like a standard iPhone on its 5.3-inch outer screen. The design was locked in by early March 2026, when reliable leaker Sonny Dickson shared CAD renders on X confirming the form factor, button layout, and horizontal dual-camera arrangement.
One detail that separates it from every existing foldable: Apple has reportedly solved the crease problem. Supply chain sources cited by UDN in November 2025 stated the iPhone Fold would be “the first crease-free foldable smartphone on the market.” Samsung Display — the exclusive panel supplier — developed a specialised panel structure and lamination method, while Apple engineered the hinge separately to prevent permanent creasing. The A20 Pro chip, built on TSMC’s 2nm process, will power the device. Touch ID replaces Face ID, integrated into the side power button — the same approach Apple uses on the iPad Air — because the folding chassis leaves no room for the TrueDepth camera array required for Face ID.
Barclays analyst Tim Long added a wrinkle in March 2026: while the iPhone Fold will likely be announced in September, his supply chain contacts indicated actual shipments could begin in December 2026 — a staggered cadence Apple previously used when it announced the iPhone X in September 2017 and shipped it in November of the same year. Most other analyst forecasts, including those from Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, place the launch in the standard September window. The December scenario remains one analyst’s read, not a consensus view.
Pricing is expected to start at over $2,000, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. Ming-Chi Kuo has estimated a range of $2,000–$2,500. UBS placed the floor lower, at $1,800–$2,000. Fubon Research cited $2,400. Apple has not confirmed a price. For context, a base MacBook Pro currently starts at $1,999.
Meanwhile, the rest of the 2026–2027 iPhone roadmap is also taking shape. The base iPhone 18 is expected to skip September 2026 entirely, shifting to a March 2027 launch alongside the iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2 — a split calendar Apple has been building toward for several product cycles. Explore the verified data below, organised by timeline, specs, pricing, comparison, and the full 2026–27 roadmap.
iPhone Fold CAD renders leaked by Sonny Dickson on March 9, 2026, confirming the book-style design, horizontal dual-camera bar, and centred hole-punch cover display. Source: @SonnyDickson on X
How the iPhone Fold Got Here
Apple’s path to a foldable iPhone spans over a decade of patent filings, failed prototypes, and supplier negotiations — here is the verified sequence of events.
iPhone Fold — Expected Specifications
All details below are based on supply chain reports, analyst notes, and verified leaks. Apple has confirmed nothing officially. Items marked RUMOUR carry additional uncertainty.
The hinge is the most debated component. Supply chain leaks from January 2026 point to liquid metal — an amorphous alloy Apple has held an exclusive license for since 2010. Conflicting reports have also suggested aluminium. The final material has not been confirmed.
The Most Expensive iPhone Apple Has Ever Sold
Based on estimates from Ming-Chi Kuo ($2,000–$2,500), UBS ($1,800–$2,000), Fubon Research ($2,400), and Bloomberg. All prices are estimates — Apple has not confirmed any figure. Standard model prices are assumed from historical patterns.
Analyst sources: Ming-Chi Kuo, Fubon Research, UBS, Bloomberg/Gurman. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched at $1,999.99 in July 2025 — meaning the iPhone Fold’s floor-price estimate lands at parity or above Samsung’s current flagship foldable.
Internal links: iOS security: 221M devices at risk · GPT-5 mini pricing context
iPhone Fold vs. the 2026 Lineup
Select a model to compare with the iPhone Fold’s expected specifications. All data is based on verified leaks and confirmed specs where available. Galaxy Z Fold 7 figures are confirmed official specs from Samsung’s launch announcement (July 2025).
2026 – 2027 Roadmap
Based on supply chain reports, analyst notes, and Sonny Dickson’s confirmed March 14, 2026 X post. The split launch calendar is the most significant structural change to Apple’s iPhone release cycle in over a decade.
The details above were drawn from verified supply chain reports, analyst notes, and confirmed leaks available as of March 2026. The iPhone Fold’s expected September 2026 announcement, its book-style design, Touch ID in the power button, dual rear cameras, Samsung Display-sourced OLED panels, and A20 Pro chip have been reported across multiple independent sources. The December 2026 shipment scenario was attributed specifically to Barclays analyst Tim Long and has not been corroborated by other analysts at this time.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 comparison data used in this piece is based on Samsung’s official July 2025 launch announcement, including its confirmed $1,999.99 US launch price, 8.0-inch inner display, 6.5-inch outer display, Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, and Android 16 (One UI 8) operating system. The 2026–27 iPhone roadmap was confirmed by leaker Sonny Dickson’s March 14, 2026 post on X.
Apple has not officially confirmed any specifications, pricing, or release dates for the iPhone Fold. All details in this piece carry the uncertainty standard to pre-announcement supply chain reporting. Related coverage: iOS security vulnerabilities affecting 221 million devices · OpenAI GPT-5 mini: benchmarks and pricing.
