One idea floating around is Apple combining an iPhone and an iPad to make a double-wide phone, or maybe the iPhone Flip will fold like the iconic Motorola Razr. Maybe it would have a triple fold to produce a massive screen.
These are all just rumors for now, and some experts think Apple might release a foldable iPad before a flip phone. Whatever the case, the talk about a foldable Apple gadget is picking up. Could it be worth the wait?
When Could a Foldable iPhone Be Released?
There is no formal release date set for a foldable iPhone. Most rumors seem to suggest that the foldable iPhone is most likely to arrive in the years 2026 or 2027, though, which doesn’t place it too far in the future if it does happen.
Here’s why the rumors are growing:
Is Apple Even Considering the Release of Any Kind of Folding Device?
Despite no official details from Apple, this company has clearly been interested in a folding device of some kind for several years.
Patents filed in 2011, 2014, June 2016, August 2016, 2018, and 2020 prove this, and there are probably others we’ve missed. Of course, this also shows that they haven’t brought a foldable device to the market despite apparent interest.
There are various designs in those documents, and some of them are wildly different from the others, including a way to fold the device multiple ways. The plans could mean, though, that they’re referring to something completely different, like an e-reader or tablet, instead of a phone.
Patent US8929085B2.
Another patent filed in 2019 is for a device with a wrap-around display: “In the described embodiment, the flexible display assembly is configured to present visual content at any portion of the transparent housing.”
Could this type of display be worked into a new kind of foldable phone? The truth is that no one knows at this time.
Imagine it: A designer’s rendering of the iPhone Fold concept.
Michal Dufka
Our Thoughts on Potential Foldable iPhone Features
Over the years, as phones have gotten larger, we’ve enjoyed more screen real estate for things like reading, watching movies, playing games, and multitasking. A foldable phone is perfect for these kinds of activities.
That said, no one really knows what Apple might have up its sleeve although the company is always innovative with its new products.
Maybe they would make a version that works better than all the rest, something that wouldn’t suffer from a visible crease down the middle when the screens fold over each other. Or, as this patent shows, maybe a foldable Apple phone might use self-heating pixels to help avoid damage when folding.
Whatever Apple does one day, iOS, the software that runs the iPhone, could and should be revamped to support multiple displays. We wouldn’t expect it to function too differently than the typical, one-screen iPhone, though, since too much change could pull dedicated customers away and the company most likely would still be producing standard types of iPhones.
iPhone apps would also need to support multiple screens for them to look great on a dual-screen iPhone. Otherwise, there’s no point in the larger phone.
Given a larger phone could resemble a tablet, it makes sense that it might support the Apple Pencil. The latest Pencil version currently works only on a small selection of iPads but this idea of a large, folding iPhone (particularly if it has a triple fold) could mean a massive screen that a Pencil would be perfect for.
We’re dreaming, of course, but Apple has surprised us with some pretty cool things in the past so we’re going to keep imagining what new iPhone concept might be on the horizon.
How Could a Foldable iPhone Work?
It’s anyone’s guess at this point, but there could be a few options: one large, foldable screen like the Galaxy Fold; two separate screens that fold over a purposefully visible hinge like the Surface Duo; or three screens—two regular ones and a third for when the device is in its folded position.
Based on leaks, patents, and suggestions, it’s looking more like we could see a clamshell design, at least for the company’s first foldable. This means the iPhone Flip would look like a typical phone from a distance, but would fold vertically and could include a small screen on the outside—similar, say, to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.
The rumor mill is claiming that Apple is reportedly testing multiple prototypes that contain foldable displays, and they want the phone to be half as thin as a typical iPhone so it’s not too bulky when closed. They may release two versions of the flip phone; a dual-screen one and a Z Flip lookalike. Some analysts think the first will be of the clamshell variety.
Here’s an example of what a clamshell iPhone Flip could look like. The images and videos there, created by artist Michal Dufka, are stunning.
Here’s ConceptsiPhone’s rendering of a dual-screen “iPhone Fold”:
What Industry Experts Are Saying
Apple expert and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that the foldable iPhone could feature a book-style design with a crease-free inner display of nearly 8 inches and an outer display of around 5.5 inches. Predictions from Omdia estimate the inner screen size between 7.3 and 7.6 inches.
For reference, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 6.9 inches. So, either way, it would indeed be a phone-tablet hybrid; a foldable phablet-style device.
When folded, Kuo says the device might measure 9-9.5mm thick, slimming down to 4.5-4.8mm when unfolded—that’s a bit smaller than Samsung’s latest foldable which measures 12.1mm and 5.6mm, respectively). The hinge is expected to blend stainless steel and titanium alloy, while the casing will be made of titanium alloy for durability.
The rear camera will sport a dual-lens system, with a front-facing camera accessible in both folded and unfolded states. Due to space constraints, Face ID may not be feasible, leading to the return of Touch ID on the side button.
Kuo has also revealed that Apple is testing color e-ink display tech that might be used as a second screen for a foldable device:
What about the price? Kuo predicts that the foldable iPhone could launch at a premium price point, ranging from $500 to $1,000 more than Apple’s current most expensive offering, potentially reaching $2,500 or more.
Ming-Chi Kuo estimates that mass production will start in the fourth quarter of 2026.
If all these rumors and experts are on to something, we think it would definitely be worth the wait for a foldable iPhone. The Chinese phone company Huawei released a triple foldable screen phone in October 2024, so it’s not like the idea is terribly far-fetched.
Huawei’s first triple foldable screen phone, the Mate XT.
NurPhoto/Getty
Apple is undoubtedly paying attention to competitors like this, which could also mean a delayed release of a foldable concept as the company gets its hands on competitive devices and tries to one-up them.
If anyone is going to disrupt the entire smartphone industry and produce an awe-inspiring, next-generation type of foldable phone, however, it very well could be Apple and we’re here for it. Are you?
