Just when it seemed like foldable phones were yesterday’s news, after AI usurped them as the current must-have, Apple may make them cool again — with a foldable iPhone reportedly landing in 2026.
The tech giant has reportedly worked on folding devices since as far back as 2018. However, the jury is split on what such a gadget will look like. Reports have mentioned a foldable iPad and a clamshell-style iPhone akin to Samsung’s Galaxy Flip range.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is preparing to release its first foldable iPhone in 2026. He said Apple also plans to release a mysterious second iPhone with a brand-new design that same year, with both devices’ development nearing completion.
Considering Apple is also reportedly planning to launch a super-slim iPhone 17 Air later this year, that’s three fresh designs the company appears to have in the works. Who said smartphone innovation was dead?
Everything we know about the foldable iPhone
The foldable iPhone would emulate Apple’s rivals including Samsung, Motorola, and Oppo, which have embraced bendy phones with varying success.
However, Apple may take a more refined approach, with reports suggesting it aims to create a sleek, ultra-slim device as thin as current iPhones when closed.
Apple is also said to be working on reducing the infamous crease that often mars the display of foldable phones. It has hinted that it could release a more durable device that you can hold on to for longer.
Apple could consider a more futuristic design alongside foldables: rollable phones. This approach sees the screen roll up like a scroll, expanding or retracting as needed.
While rollable smartphones from Oppo and Motorola are still in the concept phase, LG announced a rollable laptop that will go on sale in June for a whopping $3,499 (£2,764). This suggests that this tech is no longer a pipe dream.
An Apple patent from 2023 hinted at the possibility of such a phone. The filing described “electronic devices with rollable displays” that could shift between a flat and rolled-up state.
Of course, filing a patent doesn’t guarantee a product will follow. Given Apple’s history of waiting for technology to mature, a rollable iPhone might still be far off.
