Apple could be closer than expected to launching a foldable iPhone, according to the information, citing a person with direct knowledge. The company is believed to be closer to launching a foldable iPad minibut a foldable iPhone could be ready for stores as early as 2026 if it meets Apple's strict standards.
The company's first foldable is expected to be proportional to the Galaxy Z Flip 5 either Motorola Razr Plus, with a shell shape that allows you to store it in your pocket when folded. The company is said to be studying a design that folds the screen outward so it's on the outside, but that concept has obvious durability drawbacks that Apple reportedly hasn't been able to fix.
There are apparently two different foldable iPhone designs that are in the prototype stage. Of course, companies often produce working prototypes of products and concepts that will never be sold to the public. Apple has likely created functional, foldable iPhones in the past. This time, the source seems confident that Apple is looking towards production, although the phone would not be on the calendar for this year or 2025.
Apple may have changed the order, moving a foldable iPad mini device before working on a foldable iPhone. With a flexible eight-inch display, the foldable iPad would be similar to the current screen size of foldable tablets like the Honor Magic V2 or the OnePlus Open.
There is no indication that Apple will use an external display on this device. It may just be a tablet that folds and not a phone with two screen options.
Analysis: Too early to tell, but it will be expensive
The biggest questions about Apple's iPhone folding have not been answered, as The Information points out. Why does this phone need to exist? What features would a foldable design bring to the iPhone that would make people need to upgrade?
Based on foldable design ideas that have emerged from Apple headquarters, Apple's device will need to use durable, high-end, and very expensive parts to be a viable product. In other words, it will be very expensive. The current The foldable folding market has stagnated and is beginning to decline.since interest does not seem to spread.
While these phones used to list for over $1,000 in the US, the Motorola Razr Plus, my current pick for the best foldable The foldable phone is now $699.99 with a limited-time 'discount' that Motorola has been offering for about four months. Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 is more expensive and uses higher-end internals, such as a faster processor and more powerful cameras.
Apple's most expensive iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,199, and if that seems expensive, remember that Samsung has two phones, the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which start at a price higher. Even if Apple decides to sell its iPhone at a 50% premium over the current iPhone 15 Pro, it would still be cheaper than Samsung's most expensive foldable phone.
According to the report, Apple's phone could launch in 2026 at the earliest, with a completely new design concept that will raise the price even higher than current foldable phones. If two years seems like a long time, enough time for the price to drop, I have bad news. In terms of smartphone development, two years is not a long time.
A standard upgrade to an existing smartphone, that is. The iPhone 15, which follows the iPhone 14, typically spans 18 months of development. If Apple plans to release this phone within two years, this phone is closer to completion than a first-run prototype. We are six months away from being on a standard release schedule.
Apple won't have time to wait for prices to drop. He's going to release another super expensive new product, ripped from the future, and to hell with our wallets.
