Apple devotees hoping to fold their foldable iPhone by fall may need to be a little more patient. The iPhone Fold, which was originally scheduled to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at Apple’s September event, may not ship with those iPhones.
According to Apple analyst Tim Long, the iPhone Fold is expected to ship in December rather than September. This contradicts previous reports suggesting a September release (via MacRumors).
So what will Apple present in September 2026?
To me, it sounds like Apple could still show off the iPhone Fold when the iPhone 18 Pro launches (as a teaser or quick preview of the technology that went into the smartphone), while also clearly hinting that it will be launching in a few months.
The reason for the delay in iPhone Fold delivery could be simple. With the release of the iPhone 18 Pro in September and the iPhone Fold in December, the Pro series will receive two months of undivided attention from buyers.
I know many buyers in India are timing their upgrade cycle around Apple’s September launches, and the staggered strategy could be to protect early sales of the iPhone 18 Pro. Meanwhile, the iPhone Fold would see another two months of hype, with rumors and leaks coming from all quarters keeping potential buyers on their toes.
In the past, Apple did the same thing with the iPhone
Apple may want to launch the iPhone Fold at the safest possible time
Now the gap between the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone Fold is not the same, but the iPhone Fold will be the most expensive model in Apple’s lineup to date. Apple may want to launch it if there is no potential threat to its sales. Additionally, the foldable devices could also benefit from the holiday shopping season.
Along with the launch of the iPhone Fold, the analyst also shared some information about the company’s future roadmap. First, the regular iPhone 18 could launch in March 2027 alongside an iPhone 18e. Second, these phones could be accompanied by either an iPhone 18 Plus or an iPhone Air 2.
I’m not sure about the iPhone 18 Plus as there haven’t been any recent leaks or rumors about the device since Apple dropped it with the iPhone 17 series. The Air 2, on the other hand, could well be part of Apple’s product list for March 2027.
