Apple may be preparing to enter the foldable smartphone segment. The fresh reports suggest that the company could be launching its first foldable iPhone in 2026. However, Apple has yet to confirm any official plans. Still media reports and analysts indicate that development is now well underway. Apple’s long-rumoured foldable iPhone appears to be taking shape, with production of its crease-free display now underway. The first foldable Apple iPhone’s displays are being produced by Samsung Display.
Foldable iPhone in 2026
According to a report from Korea’s ETNews, Samsung Display has begun setting up a dedicated production line to manufacture foldable OLED panels for Apple’s first foldable smartphone. Samsung is likely to be the exclusive display supplier for Apple’s foldable iPhone. Samsung has already launched its set of foldable devices in global market. We have recently witnessed the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and Z Flip 7 FE.
While Samsung is continuously improving its foldables every year, Apple is yet to launch its first-ever foldable phone! According to recent reports, now Apple is also preparing to launch its first-ever folding iPhone. The device is slated for a potential launch in the second half of next year. Earlier, Apple was reportedly impressed by Samsung’s nearly crease-less display tech. Also Read: Compare Nothing Phone (3a) vs OnePlus Nord CE 5: Camera, Battery, Design and more
Samsung Display Production Line Exclusive for Apple
The foldable display panels are being produced at Samsung Display’s A3 facility in Asan, South Korea. This newly configured production line is reportedly near completion. According to the new report, Samsung estimates this production line can produce up to 35,000 foldable display units per month and as many as 15 million per year. This number will be enough for the Cupertino-based tech giant.
Apple is planning to have order six to eight million display units of the foldable iPhone for its first production cycle in 2026. The exclusive deal will make Samsung Display the sole supplier of foldable screens for Apple over the next few years. Also Read: iPhone 17 Air Leak Hints at Ultra-Thin Design, Sky Blue Finish, and 48MP Camera: Here’s Everything We Know
Moreover, Apple is expecting to sell anywhere between 6-8 million units of its first-ever foldable iPhone. China could be one of the key focus market for the foldable iPhone, given the growing popularity of foldable devices in the region. Also Read: Moto G96 5G with Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 Launched in India for Rs 17,999
Apple Foldable iPhone Launch
Apple has historically preferred to diversify its component supply chain. While, the Samsung’s technological edge in foldable OLED displays, gained from manufacturing its Galaxy Z Fold and Flip series. Henceforth, Apple and Samsung’s exclusive deal appears to have secured its dominant position in this partnership.
As a result, Samsung is likely to remain the exclusive supplier of Apple’s foldable iPhone displays for some time and a least be a key supplier thereafter. Samsung Display similarly led Apple’s transition from LCD to OLED with the Apple iPhone X and iPhone XS. Also Read: Google Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program announced with Android 16 Update
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the foldable iPhone could debut alongside the iPhone 18 series. It will likely sit alongside the other models in next year’s iPhone lineup. If accurate, this would mark Apple’s most significant iPhone design shift since the iPhone X. It will introduce a new form factor to the company’s smartphone line-up. The upcoming iPhone 18 series will be including the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
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Apple iPhone Fold Expected Price
Reportedly, the expected pricing places the foldable iPhone in the ultra-premium category. The hovering around $2,000, or roughly ₹1.72 lakh in India for the starting variant without taxes. Also Read: OnePlus Nord 5 vs iQOO Neo 10 – The Best Mid-Range Smartphone 2025
What to Expect from the Foldable iPhone
Apple’s first foldable iPhone is likely to feature an inward-folding OLED display. It will be an inward-folding 7-inch OLED screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Furthermore, it could get a slim profile measuring just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, and around 9mm when closed, positioning it among the thinnest foldable smartphones on the market. These display specs will be similar to the iPad mini specifications.
The display is tipped to offer no visible crease (a crease-free display), addressing a common issue in existing foldable devices. In terms of dimensions, Apple’s foldable is likely to be around 4.5mm thick when open and between 9mm and 9.5mm when closed. That makes it slightly bulkier than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which measures 4.2mm when unfolded and 8.9mm folded. Still, for a first-generation device, Apple’s offering seems impressively slim.
On comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 range features a 7.8-inch foldable inner display and a 5.5-inch external cover screen. Despite Fine M-Tec’s involvement, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 still features a visible central crease (no crease-free display). Also Read: Ai+ Pulse And Ai+ Nova 5G Phones Launched In India, Price Starts At Rs 4,999: Specs, Features
Hardware on iPhone Fold
The forthcoming device may also differ from recent iPhone models in other areas. Under the hood, the foldable iPhone will feature the Bionic A20 chip, a future-generation processor. It’s also likely to ship with Touch ID instead of Face ID. This could possibly due to the constraints of the foldable form factor. The Touch ID sensor will sit inside the power button — a possible move to conserve space.
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Camera and Software on iPhone Fold
The upcoming iPhone Fold will reportedly be featuring two rear cameras and a single front-facing camera. A new dual-lens rear camera system and a Meta Lens front camera are also likely to be in development. The dual camera system will be featuring wide and ultra-wide lenses as anticipated.
On the software front, iOS 27 is reportedly being tailored for the foldable format. The latest iOS version for foldable will take advantage of the larger screen. Enhancements in multitasking, split-screen use, and potential support for the Apple Pencil are all being explored. Also Read: Honor X9c with Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, 6,600mAh battery launched in India
Conclusion
While the details are still in the early stage, and based on industry sources. As we will near the expected launch of the first-ever foldable iPhone with crease-free display, we may get more concrete information to rely on. Also Read: Tecno POVA 7 5G, Tecno POVA 7 Pro 5G Launched in India
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