The Android World Apple has been enjoying foldable smartphones for six years, but Apple fans will soon be able to get in on the action: a foldable iPhone could arrive in 2026, according to Apple. A report by The Information.
The project, codenamed V68, is in an early stage of development and there is no guarantee it will become a reality, but the report says it is already past the conceptual stage and that suppliers are involved. This would be Apple’s first major design change to its flagship product since the iPhone X in 2017. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report of a foldable iPhone.
Apple’s decision comes at a time when the popularity of foldable smartphones is increasing worldwide. Analysis firm Counterpoint Research reports that the foldable phone market grew 49 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2024, its largest rate of increase in six quarters. iPhone shipments were 13 percent less than in the first quarter of the previous yearso a foldable iPhone could be what Apple needs to boost sales.
But foldables aren’t just more popular — they’re also more mature. The latest models are far more refined and durable than the clunky early attempts. Samsung has spent the past six years publicly tweaking its foldable smartphones: each year it’s introduced small changes to the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip series, improving display durability and hinge reliability. These were the biggest failings of the format in the early days of foldables, but advances in glass technology and hinge engineering have brought 2024’s foldable devices ever closer to a level of quality that matches what’s expected of a traditional smartphone. Samsung’s latest models have IP48 water and dust resistance ratings, and while they’re still not as dust-resistant as their non-foldable counterparts, it’s a step closer.
Samsung may have the longest track record, but competition is hot on its heels, with Huawei and Motorola taking large chunks of Samsung’s market share, and new devices from OnePlus and Google vying for consumer attention. That means there’s more manufacturing capacity to create these foldable phones, though they’re still expensive: While Motorola offers a $700 foldable phone, Samsung just raised the price of its phones.
All this action in the market makes it the perfect time for Apple to join the foldable device fray.
Apple has reportedly tested products in two sizes, but this approved project is for a foldable phone, much like Motorola’s Razr or Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip6. These types of foldable phones let you enjoy a full-sized smartphone and then fold it in half to slip into a pocket or bag. You get the same smartphone experience but in a tiny package. There’s usually an external “cover display,” and you can imagine that Apple will likely build a way to access notifications, widgets, and even Siri (with its upcoming AI-infused improvements) in there.