Now that the dust has settled over the frenzy that was the launch of the iPhone 17 series and the super-slim iPhone Air, Apple fans are left asking that one question that has been haunting Apple for some time now: Where is the foldable iPhone?
Well, as it turns out, the book-style foldable iPhone may launch as early next year.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s first-ever foldable could launch in 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 lineup. And the coolest part, is that it might look like two iPhone Airs. stuck together.
Thin, titanium, and very Apple
The iPhone Air is just 5.6mm thick, so stacking two together would make the foldable about 11.2mm when shut. That’s thicker than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 (8.9mm) but possibly thinner than Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold (10.8mm).
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo even claims Apple might get it as slim as 4.5mm when unfolded — which would be a serious flex in the foldable world.
Like the Air, Apple’s foldable is expected to use a titanium frame for extra strength without adding weight. This could finally make a foldable that isn’t as fragile as glass. This should be a huge win since current foldables like the Samsung Z Fold7 and Pixel Fold are notoriously hard to repair. The iPhone Air scored a surprisingly good repairability score of seven on iFixit, and if Apple can pull off something similar for a foldable, that’s big news.
Displays and features
Rumour has it we’ll get a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover screen. To keep things slim, Apple might even ditch Face ID entirely. Expect Apple’s usual attention to detail on the hinge design, so it feels smooth and premium when opening and closing.
Possible pricing and production
Even though Apple has been shifting a lot of production to India, and will be making some of the foldable iPhones in India, Bloomberg says at least some of the foldable iPhones will still be made in China. As for the price, don’t expect this to be cheap. The foldable is tipped to start at around $2,000 (roughly ₹1,76,000), putting it in the same league as Samsung’s Z Fold7. And as always, expect the Indian price to be a little higher.
If all goes to plan, Apple could reveal the foldable iPhone late next year or early 2026. It might just be the company’s most exciting launch since the very first iPhone.
