After years of speculation, the mythical foldable iPhone is closer than ever. New reports suggest Apple has locked in the design and moved its first foldable device into the final stages of development.

If timelines stay on track, the “iPhone Fold” could hit shelves by late 2026—marking Apple’s biggest hardware shift in nearly a decade.

A fresh report from Economic Daily News reveals that Apple has completed the experimental stage of its foldable iPhone project.
Supply chain insiders say the company is now in the final engineering and pre-production phase, with only minor adjustments left before mass production begins.

The report states that Apple has been working on this technology for over five years, but the final hardware design received an internal green light only recently. Trial production is already underway, and suppliers have begun stockpiling components in preparation for large-scale manufacturing.

Expected shipments and market impact

Industry analysts are forecasting strong demand even before launch. Early estimates suggest Apple could ship 7 to 9 million units in its first year.

If those predictions hold, Apple could instantly capture 30% to 40% of the global foldable smartphone market—a dramatic entrance that would put immediate pressure on Samsung, Huawei, and Motorola, who currently dominate the segment.

Why the foldable iPhone matters

Current foldable phones, especially from Samsung and Google, continue to struggle with the visible crease running down the center of the display.
However, insiders claim Apple may have cracked the problem.

Reports suggest the “iPhone Fold” could debut with a smooth, crease-free flexible screen, which would instantly address the biggest consumer complaint about foldables.

Borrowing the Best of iPhone 17 Pro

The new foldable is expected to share several high-end features with the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro lineup, including:

Premium materials
Updated thermal (cooling) technology
Next-generation chip designs

This signals Apple’s plan to position the foldable at the top of its device lineup.

Who’s building the Foldable iPhone?

Apple’s supply chain for this project includes its usual tech giants—Samsung for displays and TSMC for chips—but also involves specialized partners:

Shin Zu Shing — hinge components
Chi Hong — cooling systems

These companies are reportedly preparing for an extremely busy production cycle as Apple ramps up trial runs.

For many observers, this marks the most significant iPhone redesign since the iPhone X, which removed the home button and introduced Face ID.

Whether users love or hate Apple’s ecosystem, one thing is certain: when Apple enters a category, it forces the entire market to evolve.