- By Alex David
- Mon, 05 May 2025 11:39 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Reports claim that Apple has plans to venture into the foldable smartphone market with two models – the iPhone Foldable Air and iPhone Foldable Pro – slated for release in 2026. After years of speculation, Apple appears ready to rival Samsung in the flexible-display sector, having filed multiple patents over the years. According to rumours and specialists from the industry, these devices will feature premium build quality and new form factors specifically engineered for portability and multitasking. Aside from limited details on the specifications, it is assumed Apple will incorporate a new user interface designed for foldable devices. This development proves Apple’s intentions to diversify its iPhone range while also seeking to redefine the foldable experience. The purported launch is expected to set records as the company’s most significant hardware event in years.
Apple’s Plan for Foldable iPhone
Apple's Strategy for its Foldable iPhone Famous for its proprietary 'Apple' style of doing things and maintaining secrecy around products that have not yet been launched, the company now plans to introduce a foldable iPhone device. It will allegedly go on sale by November 2026. This will launch its first Apple-branded foldable phone. According to the calculations, it’s expected that the product will be integrated into the Apple ecosystem with other gadgets, including AirPods and a watch that will be rebranded as 'iWrist'. According to experts, Apple calls this ‘bending the rules’ strategically trademarked to maintain an advantage over its competitors that had already released foldable smart devices.
Industry professionals speculate that the product will be named iPhone Air Max, due to the brand's offered smartwatch and the ultra-light aluminium alloy used to manufacture the device. Currently, there are no images or videos available showcasing the newly crafted device, timelines, or soft controls. The expectation is set to height by Air Max being the first to physically redefine how we look at foldable smartphones, introducing sleek aesthetics complemented by electromagnetic screens fixated onto the device body retractable from all angles.
Foldable iPhone: What to expect
We expect Apple's first foldable iPhone to showcase a book-like foldable phone instead of a clamshell design. Sources claim Apple is planning to ship a cover display of 5.7 inches and will put on the market a primary screen a fraction below 8 inches as the device deploys. These dimensions are reportedly greater than other preliminary estimates made publicly.
For context, Jeff Pu suggested the device would have an outer display of 2,088 x 1,422 pixels and a 5.49-inch screen, alongside a 7.76-inch inner screen with 2,713 x 1,920 pixels. Ming-Chi Kuo also projected the same display size but included that the estimated phone's measurement would range from 4.5mm to 4.8mm in thickness when opened up. Furthermore, Kuo claimed the foldable iPhone would incorporate Face ID biometrics instead of Touch ID for user authentication.
iPhone 18 Pro models: Under display Face ID
The report further claimed that alongside plans for a foldable, Apple is also looking to add under the display Face ID sensors for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. This modification would do away with the need for the pill -shaped cutout Dynamic Island, with only a punch hole for a selfie camera left on the top left of the screen. Instead, all components necessary for Face ID would be positioned underneath the screen.