TL; DR
- Apple’s foldable iPhone will enter mass production in 2H26, with Foxconn starting assembly in late Q3 or early Q4 2025.
- Apple expects to ship several million units annually through 2028, with Samsung Display supplying the foldable panels.
- Key specs include a 7.8-inch crease-free display, Touch ID, titanium build, and a starting price between $2,000 and $2,500.
Apple’s much-rumored foldable iPhone is no longer just a conceptual rival to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series. According to a fresh supply chain report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is preparing to officially kick off its foldable iPhone project by late Q3 or early Q4 of 2025, with mass production expected to begin in the second half of 2026.
Foxconn has been named as the primary assembly partner for this new category of iPhone. However, the project is still in its pre-production stage, with several key components, including the highly anticipated hinge mechanism, yet to be finalized. This suggests Apple is still refining the engineering of the device, possibly in response to concerns about durability and long-term reliability.
One major element has been locked in: the foldable display. Apple has chosen Samsung Display (SDC) as the exclusive supplier, and the South Korean firm is said to be building annual production capacity for 7–8 million foldable panels to meet Apple’s demand. That said, production of the 2026 foldable iPhone will likely begin late in the year, which means Samsung’s initial output may fall short of full capacity in its first cycle.
Interestingly, recent market chatter suggests Apple may have placed an order for 15 to 20 million foldable iPhones; though this appears to reflect cumulative demand over a 2 to 3 year lifecycle, not just for 2026. This aligns with Apple’s usual long-term planning and suggests the company is expecting sustained interest, driven by a high-end price tag of over $2,000.
While the project still isn’t fully locked in, Kuo stresses that plans could shift before final assembly begins, it’s now clear that Apple is serious about entering the foldable space. If the timeline holds, this book-style iPhone could debut alongside the iPhone 18 series in late 2026, powered by Apple’s next-generation A-series chipset, likely the A20 or A20 Pro.
ALSO READ: Apple 2025 Overview: Launches So Far & Expected Announcements for rest of the year
Apple Foldable iPhone Specifications
Apple is positioning this foldable as a no-compromise flagship, aimed squarely at early adopters and die-hard fans. Here’s what the specs look like so far:
- Form Factor: Book-style foldable
- Main Display: 7.8-inch inner panel, crease-free design
- Cover Display: 5.5-inch outer screen
- Thickness: 9–9.5mm (folded), 4.5–4.8mm (unfolded)
- Build Material: Titanium alloy chassis (same as iPhone 16 Pro)
- Hinge: Stainless steel + titanium hybrid (still unfinalized)
- Authentication: Side-mounted Touch ID (Face ID excluded due to design constraints)
- Rear Cameras: Dual setup (no periscope or zoom lens confirmed yet)
- Front Camera: Single camera usable in both folded and unfolded states
- Battery: High-density battery cells (likely Si/C)
- Chipset: Not confirmed, but could be A20 Pro (based on timeline)
- Price: Estimated between $2,000 and $2,500
Launch Timeline
Apple’s foldable iPhone project is now entering its next major phase, with the final specifications already locked in as of Q2 2025. The assembly process is set to begin soon, likely kicking off in late Q3 or early Q4 2025, marking the start of Apple’s transition from prototyping to early production.
Full-scale mass production is scheduled for Q4 2026, aligning with the device’s anticipated launch window. Looking ahead, Apple is also preparing a second-generation foldable model, which is expected to arrive in 2027, signaling the company’s long-term commitment to foldables beyond just a one-off release. However, only time will tell what happens next.
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