Apple Could Release a Foldable iPhone in 2026, Will Reportedly Be Thinner, Lighter Than Competitors

Apple is reportedly focussing on preventing crease marks on the folding screen of its foldable phone.

Written by Manas Mitul | Updated: 8 March 2024 18:59 IST

Apple Could Release a Foldable iPhone in 2026, Will Reportedly Be Thinner, Lighter Than Competitors

Photo Credit: Reuters

Apple has lagged behind rivals Samsung and Google in the foldables segment

Highlights

Apple is also said to be working on a foldable MacBook
The company has previously been reported to be working on a foldable iPad
Apple has not yet confirmed plans for a foldable device

Apple is said to be working on a host of foldable devices, with a clamshell foldable phone and a foldable tablet rumoured to be in the works. Earlier this week, a prominent Apple analyst claimed that a foldable MacBook would in fact be Apple's first product in the category, going into mass production in 2027. Now, a tipster has said that the company plans to release a foldable iPhone in 2026.

According to Revegnus (@Tech_Reve), a folding iPhone would be Apple's first foldable, with the company eyeing a release window of 2026. The new information contradicts reports from last month that claimed the company had halted development on a foldable phone over display issues.

[Exclusive] Apple's Foldable Product Set for Release in 2026

According to a senior Apple official quoted by AlphaBiz, "After careful consideration, Apple has confirmed the release of its foldable iPhone for the later-than-expected year of 2026," stating, "Given the delayed…
— Revegnus (@Tech_Reve) March 8, 2024

The tipster, citing a report from Korean outlet AlphaBiz, said that Apple's foldable phone would release in 2026. The report allegedly quotes a senior Apple official, shedding light on the iPhone maker's plans for a folding phone. "Apple has decided to release the foldable iPhone in 2026, which is later than expected," the official was quoted saying (translated from Korean). "As it is a later release than its competitors, we know that cutting-edge technologies will be concentrated."

According to the report, the Apple official said that the foldable iPhone would be thinner and lighter than the competition, with a focus on preventing crease marks on the folding screen. “"In particular, the goal is to avoid the wrinkles that competitors are struggling with,” the official was quoted as saying.

Samsung Wins Patent for a Tri-Fold Smartphone With Specialised Barrier Layer for Improved Durability

While Apple has lagged behind in the foldables segment, rivals Samsung and Google already have foldable phones in the market. Samsung has released five generations of both clamshell and book-style foldable phones, while Google launched the Pixel Fold last year.

The latest update contradicts reports from earlier this week that said that Apple's first foldable would be 20.3-inch foldable MacBook, which would likely enter mass production in 2027. TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that a MacBook was Apple's only foldable product with a clear development schedule at the moment. “My latest survey indicates that currently, Apple's only foldable product with a clear development schedule is the 20.3-inch MacBook, expected to enter mass production in 2027,” Kuo said this week in a post on X.

While Apple has been rumoured to be working on an unspecified large-screen foldable, alongside folding iPhone and iPad models, a report last month had said that Apple had paused development on a foldable phone over issues with the folding display.

Apple's First Foldable iPhone Could Be a Clamshell-Style Folding Phone

Apple launched the iPad Pro (2022) and the iPad (2022) alongside the new Apple TV this week. We discuss the company's latest products, along with our review of the iPhone 14 Pro on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Further reading: Apple, iPhone, Apple Foldable, Foldable iPhone, Foldable, Samsung, Google

Manas Mitul

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In his time as a journalist, Manas Mitul has written on a wide spectrum of beats including politics, culture and sports. He enjoys reading, walking around in museums and rewatching films. Talk to Manas about football and tennis, but maybe don’t bring up his video game backlog. More