We've been waiting for an iPhone Fold for the better part of a decade now. And while some of the rumors in that time never panned out, it seems like we're finally on the verge of seeing a genuine, real-life folding iPhone.
Initial rumors suggested that Apple was working on a foldable flip phone — that would be the rumored iPhone Flip — but more recent talk has shifted to a notebook-style foldable in the vein of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Additional rumors suggest Apple is looking to equip its foldable with advanced display tech, even compared to other foldables, with a price tag to match.
Considering the best foldables that are already out there, such as the Samsung's Galaxy Fold and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Apple is going to face some tough competition for its iPhone Fold. Still, phones from Apple command a lot of attention, and the iPhone Fold should be no different.
If you're interested in learning more, then scroll on to check out all the rumors we've gathered about the iPhone Fold so far.
iPhone Fold: Rumored price and availability
It appears that the iPhone Fold will see a launch in 2026, along with the iPhone 18 series, at least according to a poster on Weibo. The iPhone Fold may also be joined by a foldable iPad if we're lucky, but we'll stay focused on the phone here.
We've heard several release rumors in the past that never panned out. But when you look at other leaks that parts like the display have started production, the 2026 launch claim looks more convincing than past ones have. And Bloomberg's Mark Gurman — a good source for upcoming Apple product news — has been posting iPhone Fold details, which is a good sign that there's some fire behind all this smoke.
As for pricing, estimates from various analysts have put the cost at around $2,000, which is the same that Samsung charges for the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Some have alleged a slightly cheaper price too, although this sadly feels less likely than Apple charging a premium for its first foldable.
iPhone Fold: Design
To understand how the iPhone Fold may look and work, we need to first consider the iPhone Air that arrived in September. The rumor mill claims that the iPhone Fold could look like two Airs attached together.
To that end, Apple's John Ternus seemed to hint in an interview with TG that elements of the iPhone Air could be used in future products, when our editor-in-chief Mark Spoonauer brought up the matter of a folding iPhone.
The iPhone Air is made using a titanium frame, unlike all other current iPhones, which use aluminum. But the iPhone Fold could be another exception, as rumors claim it will be built with both titanium and aluminum, as well as the usual toughened glass. Apple's not blended both before on an iPhone, and no doubt would form a key part of the engineering headlines when Apple finally shows off the phone.
Tipsters also claim that the foldable iPhone will feature no SIM tray, only support for an eSIM like the iPhone Air or the iPhone 17 models in the U.S. But in return for this inconvenient modernization, Apple could bring back Touch ID, currently unavailable on any new iPhone, for unlocking duties. That said, the feature could still be switched out for Face ID while Apple figures out exactly how to build its first foldable.
When the phone is finally made, it should apparently be the thinnest iPhone yet made when unfolded, beating the already impressive iPhone Air, which measures 5.6mm. By way of comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is 4.2mm thin when it's unfolded.
iPhone Fold: Displays
Whatever form the iPhone Fold does take, it seems like we can expect it to be the larger kind of foldable phone, with a big flexible inner display and a more typical phone-sized cover display, rather than a small, flip-style foldable.
This is borne out in the rumored sizes of these displays, which are listed at 7.8 inches and 5.5 inches for the inner and outer screens, respectively. The inside screen may well be built by Samsung Display, the world's premier builder of flexible screens.
Some sources have claimed that the iPhone Fold will have little to no crease spoiling the view of the inner screen, although how this compares to existing foldables is not clear. But Gurman has reported that Apple is focusing on making sure its foldable's displays are of the highest possible quality.
iPhone Fold: Cameras
We have no clear rumors for what cameras the iPhone Fold will feature. My instinct would be that Apple would go light on cameras, following the lead of the iPhone Air. That would mean only two rear cameras rather than the usual three found on flagship phones. But we'll wait and see what the rumors say down the line.
The only claim we do have to go on right now is that Apple has at least considered using an under-display camera on the inside of the iPhone Fold. These allow for a seamless-looking display but do impact image quality heavily, something that only a handful of brands have tried and even fewer still use. Samsung just abandoned its own under-display camera with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
iPhone Fold: Performance and specs
We have no specifics on the chip, RAM or storage that Apple will stuff into the iPhone Fold. But we can assume it will use the latest Apple A-series chip available at the time (likely the A20 or A20 Pro if the iPhone Fold launches next year as planned), plus at least 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.
Some rumors have suggested that the iPhone Fold could have a surprisingly large battery, with a size ranging from 5,000 to 5,500 mAh. That's larger than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the current longest-lasting iPhone we've ever seen, but this battery would have to drive a much larger screen.
Of course, all the power in the world won't mean much without software to put it to use. Fortunately, it sounds like iOS 27, the next generation of Apple's iPhone software due out late next year, will be focused on new interface elements needed to make the most of a foldable according to Bloomberg's Gurman.
iPhone Fold: Outlook
Apple sure has taken its sweet time getting a folding iPhone on the market, and that's assuming that the 2026 launch is actually happening. In the meantime, Samsung is in a strong position after seven generations of Z Fold, and Google keeps improving its own Pixel foldables too. A number of Chinese phone makers have also developed foldable phones, even if they haven't really expanded beyond their home market.
This could spell certain doom for Apple's first foldable, but the fact this is an iPhone will do a lot of heavy lifting in terms of consumer interest. If Apple can deliver some interesting unique features at the same time, then there's no reason why it can't live on the best foldable phones page alongside the more established players.
We really hope that some of the highlight rumors for the iPhone Fold, like its large battery, creaseless display and thin but sturdy construction, do turn out to be true. And we're also crossing our fingers that Apple, having learned from Samsung and others' first foldable phone attempts, will make a successful foldable first time around, without the all-too-common design flaws.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
More from Tom's Guide
- iPhone envy? A new leak shows off an orange Galaxy S26 Ultra — and I'm all for it
- I put the iPhone 17 vs Pixel 10 through a 7-round face-off — here’s the winner
- iPhone 17 battery life results are in — how do the new iPhones compare to other flagships?
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
