With over half a decade of foldable phones released, devices from Samsung, Google and Motorola, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Motorola Razr Ultra and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold (as well as others from Oppo, Huawei and more) have given consumers plenty to choose from. Notably absent is a foldable iPhone, leaving the folding phone niche handily dominated by Android devices.
While we've yet to see any official word on a foldable iPhone from Apple, the company launched the iPhone 17 series along with the new super-thin iPhone Air in September. Given all the engineering it took to cram cameras and components into the top half of the Air, some have theorized that the device is a stepping stone to a foldable, which could take advantage of the Air's internal design.
Foldable phones represent a tiny fraction of all phones sold globally. CNET found that 64% of people surveyed said they don't want a foldable phone. But those numbers could change if Apple were to sell a foldable iPhone. There is a lot of hope and expectation placed on Apple to release one, and if rumors are correct, we won't have to wait much longer for the company to do so.
Watch this: iPhone Flip: What Apple's Foldable Future Could Look Like 05:01
iPhone Fold history
Mock-ups of what the iPhone foldables could look like. Zain bin Awais/CNET
Rumors suggest Apple is developing a book-style foldable like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Years ago, in 2017, folks predicted that a foldable iPhone could launch in the then-near future of 2020 -- which didn't happen. Analysts and leakers have been kicking the release date down the road ever since, and rumors and wish lists have lingered as phone fans keep their hopes alive. Absent any confirmed details from Apple, here's everything we know so far about the company's future foray into foldables.
A new patent granted to Apple in July 2024, which was applied for years ago, shows how long the company has been working on a folding iPhone. Kuo's report in early March said that an Apple foldable could launch at the end of 2026, with a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display.
Accordingly, Kuo believes the price would match that of other similar folding devices, at $2,000 to $2,500. Despite the high price tag, he says projected shipments are 3 to 5 million devices, which is a confident estimate given only 19.3 foldables were sold in 2024, market research firm IDC reported.
Although many reports have focused on the company's struggles to eliminate the crease within the internal folding display, Apple's patent indicates that the development has been ongoing for some time. Creases have plagued foldable phones since their introduction in 2020, and although the most recent Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 have reduced the crease, it is still visible and noticeable.
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