Apple is likely to launch a foldable iPhone in the next few years as the Cupertino company takes on rival Android smartphone makers, according to reports. The iPhone maker is losing out in the foldable smartphone competition because it has not yet announced or launched its first foldable smartphone. Rumors abound, but there are no concrete clues or leaks about Apple’s foldable device yet. Previous reports suggested that Apple’s first foldable iPad would be a large, book-style folding iPad, but new details suggest it will be a flip-flop iPad instead.
According to a report from DigiTimes Asia (paywall), Apple is actually working on a foldable or foldable iPhone. The publication states that Apple is currently conducting “research and development” on the first foldable iPad, which is scheduled to launch by 2026. This contradicts previous reports that claimed the company was developing a bookshelf iPad as its first foldable iPad. .
The publication states that Apple has even signed a contract with Samsung Display as a supplier of foldable displays. They also claim that Apple will not focus on a larger, book-style foldable iPad due to the problems it is causing in the Chinese market, but that the foldable iPhone will instead be the company’s first foldable phone.
This news is not entirely surprising. The main reason for this is that a February report also indicated that Apple was working on Flip and Book-style foldable devices. The report also highlighted Apple’s prototypes, which at the time included two foldable devices, and suggested that a foldable iPad was in development. Apple’s Vision Pro team will also be assigned to future foldable products in the future. The report also suggests that Apple is unlikely to launch a foldable device until 2027.
Apple is also working on a patent for a new self-healing display technology that could be integrated into foldable models. There is also news about the complex structure of the folding hinge.
In related news, a tipster recently leaked information about upcoming iPhone models. In addition to the specifications, the report also revealed the release schedule of Apple’s next generation iPhone. These are said to include the iPhone SE 4, the iPhone 17 series, the iPhone 17 Pro series and the new iPhone 17 Slim (or Ultra) model, which is expected to launch in 2025.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
