Apple is reportedly planning to introduce a foldable iPhone as early as 2026, marking the biggest hardware design overhaul for its flagship product, according to a report by The Information. This move could see Apple following in the footsteps of Samsung Electronics, which pioneered the foldable smartphone segment in 2019. The report, citing sources familiar with the matter, indicates that Apple’s foldable iPhone has moved beyond the ideation stage, with the company reaching out to Asian suppliers for components.
Foldable smartphones, which often come with advanced artificial intelligence features, are expected to boost demand for Apple’s iPhones. This is crucial as Apple faces significant competition from Honor and Huawei in China and Samsung globally. Earlier this month, Samsung unveiled its latest foldable smartphones, which are lighter, slimmer, and feature new AI capabilities. The global market for foldable smartphones grew by 49% in the first quarter of this year, with Huawei surpassing Samsung for the top spot.
Additionally, Apple is reportedly planning an upgrade for at least one iPhone model’s camera, allowing users to control the aperture size mechanically, potentially enhancing the depth-of-field effect. Despite these developments, the report notes that there is no guarantee that Apple will ultimately release the foldable iPhone.
