The trickle of leaks about Apple's first foldable iPhone continue, and we're starting to get a clearer picture of what's in store for the new kind of iPhone reportedly launching next year.
The first foldable iPhone is expected to be revealed in September 2026 during Apple's annual iPhone event, according to a report from financial services firm JPMorgan, at a price of $1,999. It will be part of Apple's iPhone 18 lineup, the report said. The iPhone will reportedly include these features:
- 7.8-inch display with no crease (using Samsung Display screen tech)
- Two rear cameras
- Touch ID, not Face ID
Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Apple is the only major player in the industry without a foldable phone. Samsung, Google and Motorola have already jumped into the game, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Motorola Razr Plus and Pixel 9 Pro Fold raising the stakes with upgraded design features and better screen bending and flexing.
According to market intelligence company TrendForce, Samsung still leads global market share for foldable phones, with a projected 35.4% in 2025, followed by Huawei at 34.3%, Honor at 9.1% and Lenovo (Motorola) at 7.6%.
US consumers are still lukewarm on foldables -- a recent CNET survey showed 64% of people we surveyed aren't willing or interested in buying a foldable phone within the next year, and just 13% are interested. So it could be a game changer in the segment. In its market share report, TrendForce said the launch of the iPhone "Flip will "significantly raise consumer interest and acceptance of foldables, especially among high-end users."
In a discussion on r/Apple, some folks said they were excited by the first foldable iPhone but others were more cautious, suggesting they'd wait for a future model. "Everyone I know with a foldable phone has screen issues," one person wrote.
Another said, "my biggest concern is longevity/durability."
CNET has some words of warning for the Flip to avoid being "a generic, redundant novelty" among competitors.