Apple's Long-Rumored Foldable iPhone is Starting to Sound Serious

[MacRumors]

While it might feel like a foldable iPhone has been two years away for years now, rumors about the device are finally starting to sound serious.

There are now several sources who agree that Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch inner display when unfolded, along with a 5.5-inch outer display. Those sources include analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu, along with the Weibo account Digital Chat Station. The fact that these display sizes are now agreed upon and have been leaked indicates that Apple may have finalized at least some of the device's specifications.

The foldable iPhone will open up like a book, according to Kuo, rather than have a clamshell design like Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip.

Pu said the foldable iPhone recently entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) stage at manufacturer Foxconn, suggesting that Apple is moving forward with plans to release the device. Pu and Kuo both believe that the foldable iPhone will enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2026, which means the device could launch as soon as next year in limited quantities, but a release at some point in 2027 seems more likely.

As funny as it might sound, the foldable iPhone seems to be two years away for real this time.

Barclays analyst Tim Long recently estimated that Apple's first foldable iPhone could start at around $2,299 in the U.S., meaning it would cost nearly twice as much as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which starts at $1,199 there.

In addition to the 7.8-inch inner display and 5.5-inch outer display, Kuo said the foldable iPhone will feature two rear cameras, one front camera, a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID, and a high-density battery. He expects the device to be as thin as 4.5mm when unfolded, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when folded. He also said the device will have a titanium exterior, but the hinge will use a mix of titanium and stainless steel.

Article Link: Apple's Long-Rumored Foldable iPhone is Starting to Sound Serious

 

[Havalo]

Will probably need to take out a loan to afford it.

 

[jz0309]

Ring it on Apple, about time!

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Why no clamshell? 😞

 

[macjaffa]

sounds bad. sounds more like a folding ipad than a folding phone. i wont be getting one. I want a clam shell folding iphone that is half the size of a 14/16 pro that opens up to a normal sized phone. I want to fold to reduce the size of the beast, not increase it.

 

[Eorlas]

i do enjoy the notion of having a decent sized phone that can unfold to a bigger display for multimedia viewing, or just to view things bigger. price is probably going to push me away

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

No I like the fold instead of the clam. Definitely looking forward to this. I’ll def be a customer.

 

[rymc02]

Problems:

1) Only one front facing camera, so depending on where they put it, you can only use the FaceTime camera open or closed. Probably should have 2 front facing cameras.

2) 7.8 screen - this would probably be a 4:3 aspect ratio? That will leave some big black bars when viewing 16:9 footage. See the problem with Oppo's phone vs iPad mini

3) Price - Yikes

 

[TechWhisperer]

An iPhone and iPad mini in one. Could be interesting.

 

[Ralfi]

This is a product I’ll be keeping an eye on. Not buying for the first couple of years at least, but just seeing how it evolves because the appeal of having a mini tablet accessible during any time of day, for work duties (but also playtime) is appealing.

Will probably need to take out a loan to afford it.

Sell your house.

Folded, it kind of looks like a roof you can live under instead! 😂

Why no clamshell? 😞

I prefer the booklet style because you get a mini tablet in your pocket.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I prefer the booklet style because you get a mini tablet in your pocket.

I really don't do anything on the go that needs a larger screen; no video, rarely use the web, no social media or games. I would like it to be smaller in the pocket, though.

 

[filmantopia]

Photography and videography are really important to me, so the camera limitation may be the thing that keeps me away from a day 1 pre-order. But I'm very interested and will be watching closely.

 

[sw1tcher]

There are now several sources who agree that Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch inner display when unfolded, along with a 5.5-inch outer display. Those sources include analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu, along with the Weibo account Digital Chat Station.

A foldable iPhone must be happening then since Mark Gurman isn't among the people listed.

This is going to be the most expensive iPhone ever.

 

[TechRunner]

I'm honestly looking forward more to the next two years of rumors than I am the actual release!

 

[TechRunner]

Photography and videography are really important to me, so the camera limitation may be the thing that keeps me away from a day 1 pre-order. But I'm very interested and will be watching closely.

That's one of the things that killed my Galaxy Z Flip4 experience. The cameras were very much midrange phone.

 

[Veinticinco]

I'm not really interested in a foldable iPhone.

An expandable scrolling display like Samsung have demo'd however, and I'd be tempted.

 

[mansplains]

Will probably need to take out a loan to afford it.

Most people do anyway, in the form of a post-paid carrier agreement. Credit inquiry isn’t just for giggles.

 

[freezelighter]

Costs like a MacBook Pro 💻

 

[ZeroInspo]

sounds bad. sounds more like a folding ipad than a folding phone. i wont be getting one. I want a clam shell folding iphone that is half the size of a 14/16 pro that opens up to a normal sized phone. I want to fold to reduce the size of the beast, not increase it.

Yeah how could Apple be so dense? it's all about what you Apple's #1 customer wants, and not about what everyone else wants.

Costs like a MacBook Pro 💻

Makes sense, it's both an iphone and an iPad mini. It's probably cheaper than buying both separately.

 

[thebart]

Judging from this thread, no matter what Apple does they'll disappoint half the people interested in a foldable iPhone

 

[Mr_Ed]

As long as they keep the traditional non-foldable styles around, knock yourself out, Apple. Just not for me.

 

[contacos]

I love both of my Folding Phones. An Apple solution would be nice to top it off. Right now I am just carrying an iPhone 16 Pro for it's camera 😅

 

[nfl46]

Yep, this is the phone I’d love to have! Give it to me, Apple! Here’s $2K for it.

 

[Stefan.]

A 5.5-inch outer display? That's too small and disappointing.

 

[victorvictoria]

Man, seems like at Apple, $2,500 is the new $1,000.
And $3499 is the new $1,999!