According to reports, Apple is working on two foldable devices: a foldable iPhone and a large 20-inch foldable iPad.
The iPhone version is expected to be first. Back in July, DigiTimes reported that the launch is targeted for 2026. A release window hasn’t been indicated for the iPad, but it’s likely to be later.
The first foldable iPhone from Apple will likely be a model similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. It will have a screen size equivalent to a regular phone, but with the ability to fold up to be more compact in your pocket.
A December report from The Wall Street Journal suggested that the screen of the foldable iPhone will be larger than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, meaning a screen of at least 7 inches.
Apple is currently working on solving technical challenges linked to foldable devices, such as minimising visible creases in the screen, improving the hinge design and creating a durable material for the screen protector. The aim is to have a finished and polished product at launch.
Between 2019 and 2023, the market for foldable smartphones grew by an impressive 40 percent year-on-year. However, the growth rate is expected to slow to 4 percent by 2025.
Despite this, experts believe that Apple’s entry into the market could lead to a rapid increase in demand. Many people appreciate the concept of the Galaxy Z Flip, for example, but are reluctant to leave the Apple ecosystem.
Apple supposedly expects to launch its first foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026. The project, known internally as “V68”, has now left the prototype stage and is in a more advanced phase of development.
Could Apple end up making some of the best foldables you can buy? Time will tell.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication Macworld Sweden and was translated and adapted from Swedish.
