The mythical “iPhone Fold” finally seems to be real. After years of rumors, Apple’s first foldable device is reportedly in the final stages of development and pre-production.
According to a new report from the Economic Daily News, the design is essentially set. Supply chain insiders have been quoted as saying that Apple is done with the experimental phase and is now just fine-tuning the final details. This is a big signal that the company aims to launch this product by the end of 2026.
Apparently Apple has been working on this for over five years but only recently greenlit the final hardware. Trial production is already underway and suppliers are starting to stockpile parts to prepare for the huge orders coming their way.
Analysts are already predicting big numbers. They expect Apple to ship around 7 to 9 million units in the first year alone. If that happens, Apple could immediately capture a massive 30-40% share of the global foldable device market, stealing the spotlight from Samsung, Huawei and Motorola overnight.
Why it matters – and what to expect next
The smartphone market has been a bit boring lately, but an Apple foldable device could cause a stir.
The most exciting rumor? The screen. While current foldable phones from Samsung or Google still have that visible crease in the middle, insiders claim Apple has found a way to get rid of it completely. If the iPhone Fold comes to market with a truly smooth, seamless screen, it will solve the biggest complaint people have about this technology.
It is also expected to share some DNA with the iPhone 17 Pro, adopting its premium materials and possibly its cooling technology.
For the supply chain geeks: Standard big players like Samsung (screens) and TSMC (chips) are on board. But other partners such as Shin Zu Shing (hinges) and Chi Hong (cooling) are also preparing for a busy year.
For the rest of us, this is the biggest change in iPhone design since the iPhone X lost the home button. Whether you love or hate Apple, their entry usually forces everyone else to up their game.
What’s next?
If these test runs go smoothly, we expect mass production to begin sometime in 2025. This means that the official market launch is expected to take place at the end of 2026. Expect the leak floodgates to open soon – once suppliers start making millions of them, keeping secrets will become impossible.
