Apple is preparing to enter the foldable smartphone market in 2026, drawing directly from the design and display engineering behind its upcoming iPhone 17 Air, according to Mark Gurman in his Sunday morning newsletter for Bloomberg.
The device is expected to feature a crease-free OLED display, a premium build, and a form factor aimed at affluent early adopters. However, the shift in design also means the loss of some familiar features, marking a new direction for Apple’s hardware strategy.
Thinner Display Tech and a Missing Feature
Apple’s foldable iPhone is expected to ship with a 7.8-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external display, wrapped in a book-style chassis that closes flat. What sets this model apart is the reported use of OLED panels that omit the standard polarizer layer—a move that improves flexibility and reduces overall screen thickness.
The company began developing these thinner OLED configurations as early as 2024 that detailed internal work on display durability and fold resistance.
This design optimization enables Apple to target a display with no visible crease, directly addressing a longstanding complaint seen in early foldable models from Samsung and others. But that ambition requires trade-offs.
Tthe foldable smartphone is said to omit Apple’s widely-used Face ID technology, marking a significant departure from its current flagship smartphones. Instead, Apple is expected to rely on a Touch ID sensor embedded in the power button.
Sources also suggest Apple may be exploring additional biometric alternatives. Apple may explore alternative authentication methods, possibly reverting to advanced fingerprint technology or iris scanning. These changes highlight the company’s willingness to compromise legacy features in favor of improved mechanical design.
Borrowing from iPhone 17 Air’s Ultra-Slim Architecture
The connection to the iPhone 17 Air is central. That device is rumored to be Apple’s thinnest yet, at just 5.5mm. Apple’s foldable is expected to adopt a similarly slim profile, measuring around 4.5mm when open and between 9mm and 9.5mm when folded, based on hardware specifications mentioned by Gurman.
Much of this reduction is driven by the use of advanced display driver ICs (DDIs), which convert digital signals from the phone’s processor into analog voltages for the screen.
By shrinking and optimizing these components, Apple is reportedly improving thermal performance and lowering power consumption—both essential in compact foldable designs. These changes are also expected to enhance battery efficiency.
The iPhone 17 Air could also serve as a “transitional design,” paving the way for the radically restructured foldable device.
High Price, Premium Build
Reports suggest Apple is pricing its foldable well above its current flagship iPhones. The starting cost is expected to land between $2,000 and $2,500. That positions the model squarely in the luxury bracket—potentially nearly double the cost of the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Apple’s material choices appear to support that pricing. According to multiple reports, the device may feature a titanium chassis similar to that used in the iPhone 15 Pro, paired with a hinge composed of both titanium and stainless steel.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is testing a “liquid metal” hinge design in partnership with Dongguan Yian Technology, aiming to eliminate mechanical wear and reduce folding creases over time.
Expected camera features include dual rear lenses and at least one front-facing camera designed to operate in both folded and unfolded modes. However, no word yet on whether the device will support Apple Pencil or any new foldable-specific camera software.
Strategic Timing and Market Conditions
Apple’s timing aligns with its long-standing approach of entering a product category only once the technology and market conditions are mature.
While Samsung introduced the first Galaxy Z Fold back in 2019, Apple has waited through several product generations to refine its own approach. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold, introduced in 2019, initially faced significant criticism for durability issues, visible creases, and hinge reliability.
By watching competitors navigate these challenges, Apple has had the opportunity to iterate internally and shape a launch strategy designed for a more receptive market.
According to IDC forecasts, foldable smartphone shipments are expected to quadruple by 2026. That projection aligns with Apple’s product launch window and supports the theory that the company intends to catch the market at its growth inflection point.
Production Timeline and Remaining Unknowns
Analysts Jeff Pu and Ming-Chi Kuo expect mass production of the foldable iPhone to begin in late 2026, which suggests a retail launch could slip into early 2027.
The delayed schedule may also give Apple time to refine iOS for foldable form factors—especially for multitasking, app scaling, and potential stylus support, which has yet to be confirmed.
Beyond the rumored launch date and biometrics, open questions remain about performance, thermals, and long-term durability.
Thin devices typically face heat dissipation challenges, and while Apple’s display driver optimizations could help, real-world testing will be key. Consumers and developers alike will also be watching to see how the foldable integrates into the broader Apple ecosystem—particularly in relation to the iPad lineup and the future of mobile productivity.
Still, Apple’s strategy appears clear. Apple’s decision to price its foldable phone above the $2,000 mark clearly positions it as a luxury offering… aligning with its broader brand positioning, appealing primarily to early adopters and tech enthusiasts.
As foldables shift from novelty to mainstream, Apple seems ready to shape what the premium tier of that market will look like—with or without Face ID.
