Apple may release foldable iPhone as soon as 2026: report

Apple is working on a foldable iPhone model that could be released as soon as 2026, according to a report. 

The California-based tech company valued at $3.46 trillion   contacted suppliers in Asia to manufacture parts for the new phone, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told The Information. 

The phone would fold widthwise, sources told The Information, making the design very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip released in 2020. The Galaxy Z phones cost between $850 and $1,900 on the Samsung website.

The foldable Apple iPhone release is not yet guaranteed, as the tech giant often cancels projects. 

If the rumored model makes it to shelves, it would be one of the most radical changes to the iPhone design since its 2007 launch. 

Apple has reportedly created an internal code name for the fold phone project — V68 — which indicates the manufacturing process is moving along. Apple is reportedly planning to create foldable phones in two different sizes, The Information said.

Typical iPhone models usually take about 24 months to manufacture from start to finish, but a foldable iPhone might take longer to complete, sources told The Information.

Apple designers face some potential challenges when it comes to a foldable phone, like preventing the crease that forms in the middle of the screen from repeated folding.

Designers would also have to create an extra thin model, since folding the phone will double the thickness and it should be thin enough to fit in a pocket.

But it looks like that problem may be on its way to being solved, since Apple plans to release a much thinner iPhone model next year, The Information previously reported.

Apple also faces the problem of creating exciting, new features that will entice customers to snap up the foldable phones, since they will be sold at a higher price point. 

The tech giant is not without competition. Samsung currently dominates the foldable phone market, though its share of the market has declined from 80% of the market share in 2022 to just under 70% in 2023, according to market research firm TrendForce.

Foldable phone sales have been increasing, with global shipments of 15.9 million units in 2023 representing a 25% year-to-year increase, according to TrendForce.

However, foldable phone sales still account for just 1.4% of the overall smartphone market, according to TrendForce.

A consumer lag in jumping ship to the foldable phone trend is likely due to high price points and maintenance issues with the screen creasing.

Shipments are expected to continue rising, though, by 11% to 17.7 million units in 2024, according to TrendForce. 

Along with the rumored foldable phone, Apple is expected to release other product updates in the next few years.

Apple plans to add a new button for taking photos and videos to the bottom right side of the upcoming iPhone 16, The Information said.

The iPhone 16 which is expected to launch in September 2024 will also feature an easier method for replacing its batteries, to comply with European regulations, and a larger graphite sheet to deal with overheating issues, The Information said.

Some of the less expensive iPhones will also receive the same optical zoom function that was previously reserved for the high-end phones. 

Apple is reportedly planning a fourth-generation version of the iPhone SE and some notable camera upgrades that will allow users to control lens aperture instead of relying on portrait mode. 

The iPhone has evolved over time with new face and recognition technology, advancements to the virtual voice assistant Siri and updated iOS operating systems  but its physical design has resisted any major overhauls.

A volume button has shrunk or changed places here and there and the newer iPhone models have sharper edges than the older, rounder models.

Perhaps the most significant change occurred when Apple axed its trademark home button. 

In 2016, Apple released the iPhone 7, which replaced the home button with an unmoving, outlined circle at the bottom of the screen. 

Then, Apple released the iPhone X in 2017 with a full screen on its front no button.

A foldable phone would be a massive change to the tech brand’s pattern of pushing out new iPhones yearly with little to no significant design changes.