Is the iPhone Fold finally happening?
The iPhone Fold is Apple’s long-rumoured foldable smartphone, years in the making and perpetually pushed back — but the latest wave of leaks suggests the device is now entering its final production stages ahead of a potential September 2026 debut. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF Securities, Foxconn has already initiated the project to create Apple’s inaugural foldable device. Weibo leaker Instant Digital reports that Samsung Display is set to begin mass producing the 7.8-inch OLED panels in May 2026. This is no longer a rumour about a rumour — production orders have been placed.
What we know about the iPhone Fold specs so far
The iPhone Fold is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner folding OLED display supplied by Samsung Display, paired with a 5.5-inch external screen. That inner panel size puts it in direct competition with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold lineup, though Apple’s approach appears to differ significantly in one crucial area: the crease. Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital claims Apple has submitted production line orders that reveal crease measurements for the 7.8-inch inner display, with the screen reportedly flatter than anything currently on the market — and potentially crease-free to the naked eye. If accurate, that would be a meaningful differentiator. Every current foldable, including Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, has a visible crease running down the centre of the inner display. It is the most persistent criticism of the entire foldable category, and Apple may have almost solved it.
Other speculated features include an under-display camera, hole-punch cameras, a potential return of Touch ID in place of Face ID, and a metal liquid glass hinge. Ming-Chi Kuo has noted that several specifications — particularly the hinge mechanism — are still not fully finalised. The hinge assembly is expected to carry an average selling price of $70 to $80, below the market norm of $100 to $120, thanks to assembly design optimisation and Foxconn scaling.
iPhone Fold launch timeline: September 2026 or later?
The production timeline points firmly toward a September 2026 launch as part of the iPhone 18 lineup, though some analysts are not ruling out a slip to 2027. Display mass production is targeted for May 2026, with broader mass production of the device itself expected in the second half of 2026. Early prototyping and the New Product Introduction phase at Foxconn began in early 2025, meaning Apple has been stress-testing durability, software adaptation, and usability for months already.
The caveat here is Apple’s own history with this device. Ming-Chi Kuo’s earlier predictions placed the iPhone Fold in 2023, then 2024, before the timeline shifted again to 2026. Mizuho Securities has flagged the possibility of a further postponement to 2027. The hinge not being finalised is a genuine red flag — it is the most mechanically complex component of any foldable phone, and getting it wrong means the whole product fails. Until Apple locks that down, a September 2026 launch remains a target, not a guarantee.
How does the iPhone Fold compare to Samsung’s foldables?
Samsung is not standing still. The company is preparing a rival device internally referred to as the Wide Fold, with a production run of one million units — reportedly the largest initial foldable run Samsung has attempted in three years. That signals Samsung is treating Apple’s entry into the foldable market seriously. The Galaxy Z Fold has dominated the premium foldable segment for years, but it has never fully escaped the crease criticism or the perception that foldable Android software feels like an afterthought layered onto a phone OS. Apple’s advantage, if the iPhone Fold launches as described, would be the combination of a near-invisible crease, tighter hardware-software integration, and the sheer weight of the Apple ecosystem pulling existing iPhone users toward the upgrade.
The estimated retail price of around $2,300 positions the iPhone Fold at the very top of the smartphone market. That is a significant premium even over the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and it will test whether Apple’s brand loyalty can stretch into a category that has remained niche despite years of Samsung pushing it mainstream. The hinge cost reduction to the $70 to $80 range may help Apple’s margins, but there is no indication that saving feeds through to the retail price.
Is the iPhone Fold worth waiting for?
For anyone who has been holding off on buying a foldable specifically because of the crease issue, the answer is probably yes — provided Apple actually ships in 2026. The crease has been the single biggest reason mainstream consumers have stayed away from foldables, and if Apple has genuinely minimised it, that removes the most visible objection to the form factor.
What is the expected price of the iPhone Fold?
The iPhone Fold is estimated to launch at around $2,300, according to multiple sources cited in leaks and analyst notes. That makes it the most expensive iPhone ever produced if the figure holds. Apple has not confirmed any pricing.
When will the iPhone Fold be released?
The most widely cited target is September 2026, aligning with Apple’s usual annual iPhone launch window and the planned May 2026 start of display panel mass production by Samsung Display. However, some analysts including Mizuho Securities have suggested the launch could slip to 2027 if key components — particularly the hinge — are not finalised in time.
The iPhone Fold is shaping up to be the most consequential Apple product launch in years, not because foldables are new, but because Apple entering the category with a near-crease-free screen and its signature software integration could finally push foldable phones from enthusiast novelty to genuine mainstream option. Whether it arrives in September 2026 or slips further, the production machinery is clearly in motion — and this time, the leaks have receipts.
Where to Buy
Samsung Galaxy S26 | Google Pixel 10
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: TechRadar
