Foldable iPhone leak reveals new details

For years, the foldable iPhone has existed in the same space as flying cars. Endlessly talked about, never seen. That’s starting to change. A mix of fresh leaks, analyst reports and supply-chain signals now suggest Apple’s first foldable iPhone is not just coming, but likely arriving by fall 2026.Fresh details shared by Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station suggest that Apple is developing a book-style folding iPhone, internally described as a “wide foldable”, with a clear emphasis on thinness and durability. The leak corroborates previous rumours suggesting that Apple has opted for a side-mounted Touch ID sensor, skipping both Face ID hardware and ultrasonic under-display fingerprint tech to reduce internal bulk. The device is also said to feature a heavily reinforced hinge, an area where Apple is expected to set new benchmarks after years of industry criticism around creasing and longevity.The engineering prototype reportedly includes a 7.58-inch internal display with an under-display front camera, eliminating visible cutouts, and a 5.25-inch external display with a punch-hole camera. On the back, Apple is said to be testing a dual 48MP camera system with a larger sensor base, pointing to a focus on imaging rather than sheer camera count. If accurate, the leaks reinforce speculation that Apple may have cracked one of foldables’ biggest pain points: minimising, or potentially eliminating, the display crease.The move would place Apple squarely into a category that Samsung has dominated for the last seven years with its Galaxy Z lineup. Samsung has already pushed ahead to the next phase of the form factor race, unveiling its Galaxy Z TriFold in December — a tri-fold device that opens out to a 10-inch display and signals where foldables are headed next. Apple, by contrast, appears content to enter the space later, but with a more polished and premium-first approach.Analysts say the foldable iPhone is part of a clearly staged, three-year hardware strategy. Apple introduced the ultra-thin iPhone Air in 2025, follow it up with the foldable iPhone in 2026, and potentially unveil a radically redesigned, mostly glass iPhone in 2027. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has described the foldable as the “star” of Apple’s 2026 lineup, likening it to “two titanium iPhone Airs side-by-side.”Market researchers believe Apple’s entry could reset the foldables segment. According to International Data Corporation, global foldable smartphone shipments are expected to grow 10% year-on-year in 2025 to 20.6 million units, before accelerating sharply in 2026. IDC’s Nabila Popal said Apple’s foldable, alongside Samsung’s tri-fold devices, could push the category to 30% growth next year, calling Apple a likely “game-changer” for mainstream adoption.Price, however, could be the biggest shock. A Fubon Research report pegs the foldable iPhone at as much as $2,399 — potentially making it the most expensive foldable phone on the market. JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee offers a slightly lower estimate of $1,999, but still expects the device to generate up to $65 billion in revenue and drive high-single-digit earnings growth in the medium term. Initial sales are expected to be modest, with low-teens million units in fiscal 2027, scaling to the mid-40 millions by 2029.Veteran Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts specifications will be finalised by Q2 2025, with mass production beginning in Q4 2026, though early shipments may be limited due to manufacturing complexity.Foldables remain a niche by volume, but with smartphone replacement cycles stretching longer than ever, Apple’s long-delayed entry could give the category its first true mainstream moment — and reshape a market Samsung has largely defined until now.