After years of prototyping and internal testing, Apple is shaping its first foldable iPhone with the goal of offering a different format that combines mobile and mini tablet on a single device.
The most coherent and consistent leaks point to a model the first foldable iPhone with book-style hinge, four cameras and Touch ID-based biometrics, leaving out facial recognition to save space. The most repeated timeframe points to an announcement in the fall of 2026.
Format and screen: a book-type folding with a large interior panel
The device will adopt a design book type, similar to the most established folding ones on the market. It will have a 5,5-inch outdoor screen for quick tasks and a 8 inch internal screen for work, leisure and multitasking when unfolded.
To minimize the wrinkle in the center of the panel, Apple works with a in-cell touch configuration and a microperforated metal plate under the screen, solutions that seek a less noticeable crease and a more precise tactile response.
Prototypes point to a device very thin: around 9–9,5 mm when closed and below 5 mm when opened, trying to balance aesthetics, rigidity and thermal dissipation.
It is expected that Samsung Display provide the panels, while Apple fine-tunes brightness, color and refresh rate to take advantage of the large screen for productivity tasks and multimedia consumption.
Biometrics, connectivity and performance
Identification will be based on Touch ID integrated into the side buttonThe absence of Face ID is due to space and thickness issues, and the idea of ​​offering reliable unlocking both folded and unfolded.
Following the line of its latest releases, the model will bet only on eSIM, without physical card tray, with options of dual eSIM for those who drive two lines.
Another pillar will be the 5G C2 modem developed by Apple, which seeks to reduce external dependence and optimize energy efficiency and receptionThis connectivity chip is also being considered for future high-end iPhones.
In the rest of the connectivity we can expect latest generation Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as thermal and energy management designed for maintain autonomy despite the ultra-thin format. The memory configurations would start, as has been commented, from 256 GB storage.
Cameras, software and user experience
The most consistent leaks speak of four cameras: one for the outer screen, one for the inner screen and two rear sensorsThis covers video calls and selfies in any mode, as well as traditional photography.
Exact specifications are not finalized, but a rear set with main sensor and ultra wide angle or telephoto lens, prioritizing a balance between quality, thickness and consumption.
The differential value will also come from software: iOS would incorporate split screen modes, continuity between screens and improvements in gestures for take advantage of the 8-inch surface without compromising usability in a compact format.
With control of iOS and the App Store, Apple can push developers to optimize interfaces and flows for folding faster than on platforms with greater fragmentation.
Schedule, price and launch strategy
The project, identified internally as V68, would have entered a key phase with suppliers preparing the mass production in early 2026, with an eye on a launch in fall 2026.
For its premiere, the following are contemplated: two sober colors, black and white, without ruling out new shades in subsequent cycles if demand permits.
The price would be around 2.000 Euros in the base configuration and could scale up to 2.500 Euros according to memory and finishes, placing it in the highest range of the market.
In a segment that today is around 1,6% global share, Apple's entry could act as a catalyst, competing with Samsung and other players with their own focus on design, software and ecosystem.
Some reports indicate that Apple will adjust its schedule between 2026 and 2027 to give prominence to the folding car, staggering the rest of the range to avoid cannibalization and maximize media attention.
With this plan on the table, the foldable iPhone aims to strike a balance between thinness, versatility and performance, supported by side Touch ID, four cameras, eSIM and C2 modem, a 5,5-inch external screen and an 8-inch internal screen, and a display that would fit in the final stretch of 2026.
