Apple is said to be preparing to join the foldable phone market with the release of its first foldable iPhone, which could launch in 2026 as part of the iPhone 18 series.
A new CNBC report based on JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee says the predicted device will go on sale in September 2026 and will have a book-style foldable mechanism, as seen in Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series.
Chatterjee has estimated a high-end price tag of $1,999 for the foldable iPhone, speculating this could unlock a massive $65 billion revenue stream for Apple.
This latest prediction has been supported by recent reports from respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo had stated that Foxconn, Apple's long-established manufacturing partner, will start working on the development of the foldable device by late 2025. He further stated that mass production is likely to commence in the second half of 2026. As reported by Kuo, Apple has already started finalizing essential hardware components, such as the display, which is likely to be provided by Samsung Display.
The foldable iPhone is said to have a 7.8-inch inner display and 5.5-inch outer cover screen. Samsung's future Galaxy Z Fold 7 will reportedly come with an 8-inch inner display and 6.5-inch outer display. Apple's model is said to be marginally thicker when folded — between 9mm and 9.5mm — and approximately 4.5mm to 4.8mm when unfolded. This would render it slightly thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is projected to be 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded.
One of the highlight innovations might be Apple's use of a creaseless foldable screen, a feature that could make it stand out against other competitors. Interestingly, Samsung is also reportedly working on the same kind of technology for its Galaxy Z Fold 8, which is also set for launch in 2026.
On the photography front, Apple's foldable iPhone will probably come with a dual-lens rear camera setup. Moreover, individual front cameras may be embedded inside both the primary and cover screens, making its use in folded and unfolded states more useful.
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