The iPhone Fold is coming: what we know, what the rumors are and when it might launch

After years of rumors, it looks like Apple is finally gearing up to release the iPhone Fold. This innovative device will mark the company’s first attempt in the foldable segment, almost seven years after Samsung introduced its first foldable phone with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. Over the years, the Korean company now offers two different foldable devices, and many other Android manufacturers have also followed suit by launching phones in this category, including Google with its own foldable line. Apple, for its part, decided to wait to launch a device like this because it wanted to solve the biggest design flaw in foldable phones: the crease on the screen.

So far, rumors suggest that the company will follow a similar design to the Galaxy Fold, add high-level specifications to this product, but it will also have some drawbacks compared to the iPhone Pro models. However, with reports suggesting this foldable could cost as much as $2,000, it’s still unclear whether Apple will be able to attract and dominate a market that has until now been exclusive to Android phones. Ahead of its scheduled release, here’s everything we know about its design, internal specs, pricing, controversies, and when you might be able to get your hands on Apple’s most innovative product in a while.

Early rumors suggested that Apple would follow a similar design to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. In other words, users would have to unfold the phone to use it. Although some reports suggest that Apple could explore this possibility for a future model, the company has apparently decided to go with a Z Fold-like design for its initial launch. That said, there’s still a big difference between today’s foldable devices and what the iPhone Fold could look like.

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone Fold will have a 5.5-inch screen when closed and a 7.8-inch screen when unfolded. Other reports suggest that when folded, this device will look like two iPhone Airs stuck together. With a titanium chassis, Apple will use liquid metal for the iPhone’s hinge, a new technology that makes the device’s crease less visible. Even though Apple was supposed to make the crease completely disappear, it seems the company failed to master this technology.

The iPhone Fold is also expected to have Touch ID capabilities on the side button, offer two main lenses, an internal selfie camera and an external selfie camera. At this time, it’s unclear whether Apple will add an action button or MagSafe features to this device, but it’s still too early to tell.

Apple’s iPhone Fold will feature the company’s upcoming A20 chip. Unlike the current generation, Apple will use a new manufacturing process from its chipmaker TSMC that should make this iPhone faster while being more energy efficient. The main difference between the A19 chips and the A20 is that the company could have scaled down the processor to 2nm, compared to 3nm for the current generation.

While Apple is expected to keep the same 12GB of RAM added for the iPhone 17 Pro models, it appears the new A20 chip will use a wafer-level multi-chip module that speeds up communication between the processor and RAM. Other internal upgrades are expected to be Apple’s upcoming C2 modem for 5G capabilities, which is expected to bring support for 5G satellites, as well as technologies comparable to Qualcomm’s latest offerings and its proprietary N1 chip for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

On top of all these changes, Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital suggests that the iPhone Fold will have the biggest battery on an iPhone, at around 5,500 mAh. Given that this iPhone will have as much space as two iPhone Airs stacked together, it makes sense that it could have the biggest battery on an iPhone since the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Several analysts have weighed in on the possible price of the iPhone Fold – and it doesn’t look good for customers. Ming-Chi Kuo suggested prices between $2,000 and $2,500. Not only is this category much more expensive in general, but Apple’s premium pricing will also impact the final product. On top of that, with the current memory crisis due to AI, the new materials that Apple is going to use and all the new technologies that the company is developing, it is natural that the price will follow.

The most optimistic analysis suggests the iPhone Fold could start below $2,000. However, Weibo leaker Instant Digital recently said that Apple plans to offer this device in three storage capacities (256GB, 512GB, and 1TB), with prices starting around $2,320, then $2,610, and up to $2,900.

Still, it’s important to note that starting with the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple began offering a 2TB option, which adds another $800 to that model’s original price. One idea Apple might have to justify the high price could be to remove the 256GB storage option and simply charge more for larger storage, starting with 512GB and going up to 2TB. While it’s unclear what “Pro” features this device might have to justify additional storage, Apple will certainly pitch it as a video consumer product, meaning users can prioritize streaming and watching content on a larger screen in a smaller format.

The iPhone Fold hasn’t even been released yet, but there are already some controversies surrounding the device. For example, although this product should be the best that Apple has to offer, it will not bring Face ID technology. While many will be happy with the reintroduction of Touch ID on an expensive iPhone, Apple has been touting for years that Face ID is much more secure and seamless to use. Still, the reason the company won’t add facial authentication is because there is no room for the TrueDepth camera system.

Another controversy that could bother potential buyers is the fact that Apple won’t offer a triple camera system. While in the past Apple offered a dual-lens camera system with a wide-angle and telephoto setup, it seems the company will be betting on a wide and ultra-wide setup of 48 MP each. There is also a rumor that the selfie camera could have a resolution of 24 MP, which would be another big improvement over the 18 MP selfie cameras on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. While the iPhone 18 Pro models will have better cameras, customers looking for an innovative design and good enough cameras will have the option of the Fold.

Additionally, given that the high price will make users spend almost twice as much as they usually would on an iPhone, it makes sense that they will be disappointed if Apple removes some of the features they have had for years, like the action button, camera control, MagSafe support, Face ID technology or optical zoom.

A few months before Apple’s September event, rumors were circulating whether Apple would introduce this device in September itself or at a later date. Japanese site Nikkei Asia suggested in April that the iPhone Fold could be pushed back to a 2027 release. Yet Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple was still on track to unveil that device alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models.

One thing Apple has done in the past and could do again is announce the iPhone alongside the other models, but not release it until a little later. This approach could make sense if Apple is short on inventory in September or simply wants to create more hype around this device. For the iPhone

That said, the iPhone Fold could be introduced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models, but its official release date could be pushed back to October, November, or even closer to the holiday season, depending on how Apple is able to deal with the shortage. It’s also possible that this device will be limited to a few regions to begin with, as reports suggest that manufacturing this device was trickier than Apple expected. Once again, looking at these reports alongside the current memory crisis, it makes sense that getting your hands on the first iPhone Fold in 2026 might be harder than buying an iPhone 18 Pro.