Apple's foldable gambit: First iPhone foldable expected in 2026, targeting premium segment: Report

It has been almost two decades since the world got its most elite consumer electronics symbol – the iPhone. From flaunting the half-eaten Apple logo peeking through your fingers while taking a call to touting Apple’s privacy features and ecosystem, the iPhone exudes elitism and sophistication. Yet for years, Apple has stayed away from foldables, even as global competitors like Samsung and Huawei have launched multiple models in their foldable lineups. As Apple claims, it may not be the first, but it aims to be the finest, and now, seven years later, it is finally on track to launch its first foldable iPhone next year, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Apple has historically entered markets early – be it the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods – Apple has always reshaped categories. That is what makes the upcoming foldable iPhone launch notably different. This time, it is arriving years after the first foldables. Instead of unveiling a groundbreaking interface or pioneering hardware, Apple will be joining an already established segment, as Gurman writes in his latest Power On newsletter. The design of the device is expected to be similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line, with many shared core components, Gurman shares, “including foldable OLED screens sourced from Samsung Display.”

Gurman also writes that for Apple, there remains a focus on reducing the visibility of the inner display crease and significantly enhancing the hinge mechanism.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously suggested that Apple’s strict requirements for a near-invisible crease would drive the adoption of ultra-precision laser drilling for components such as display metal plates. On July 17, 2025, Fine M-Tec announced an investment of KRW 17.5 billion (approximately $12.6 million) to expand its ultra-precision laser processing capacity. The investment will be deployed between July 2025 and January 2027 to meet rising demand in the foldable device segment.

“This confirms my earlier prediction that Apple’s stricter crease-free requirements for the foldable iPhone would accelerate the adoption of laser drilling for display metal plate production. Fine M-Tec’s investments related to the foldable iPhone are not yet complete—expect additional announcements ahead,” said Ming Chi Kuo in a post on X.

This includes supplying key components to both Apple and Samsung. Kuo now says that a recent investment by Fine M-Tec confirms this direction.

Gurman estimates that the upcoming foldable iPhone will be priced at a minimum of $2,000, offering Apple a straightforward way to drive iPhone revenue growth even if overall unit sales remain modest.

Yet, thanks to Apple’s brand power and marketing, the tech giant could capture a significant share of the relatively uncrowded foldable market within months of launch. This is not just because of its branding strategies, but also several iPhone users wanted a foldable but were not convinced enough to switch to Android for the same, creating a high “pent-up demand” bolstered by Apple loyalists, aside from new users. Additionally, the company’s timing also aligns with growing foldable adoption in China, a key market where Apple wants to catch its footing again.

As we wait for the next innovation by Apple in a segment already innovated and nurtured for the last seven years, what is closer is the tech giant’s upcoming Q3 results on July 31.