The rumors about him first foldable iPhone They've been circulating for years, but in recent months much more concrete leaks have begun to surface. Images based on CAD files, analyst reports, and supply chain clues suggest that Apple is finalizing the details of a device that could change its product lineup and shake up the foldable market in Europe.
Although the Cupertino company has not officially confirmed this product, the 3D recreations and the comments of veteran filterers As Sonny Dickson or Mark Gurman paint a fairly consistent picture: an iPhone that opens like a book, integrated into a new range of “Ultra” products and with a planned launch in 2026, with a special impact on key markets such as Spain and the rest of the European Union.
What would the design of the first foldable iPhone look like?
The latest leaks show a phone that adopts a book-like formatSimilar to other foldable phones on the market, but with slightly different proportions. According to leaked industrial design files, the device would be lower and wider that some rivals like the Galaxy Z Fold, opting for a compact body when closed.
In those recreations, shared on X (Twitter) by Sonny Dickson, a mobile phone can be seen that It measures approximately 8,4 cm wide and 12 cm high When folded, the width increases to about 16,7 cm when unfolded, resulting in an interior screen the size of a small tablet, though not as elongated as some other Android models.
The rear area features a camera bar that runs almost the entire width of the device. Within that strip would be integrated two camera sensors, an LED flash, and what appears to be an additional microphone. Below that strip is a cleaner space reserved for the Apple logo, with a two-tone finish that distinguishes the camera area from the rest of the chassis.
Another striking element is the outdoor screen: It would have rounded edges and a centered hole For the front camera, it's different from the notch or Dynamic Island currently seen on iPhones. When you unfold the device, a large, almost bezel-less inner screen appears, also with a selfie camera embedded in a small hole, this time in the upper left corner.
Regarding physical connectivity, the images reveal a USB-C port at the bottomA speaker grille is located on the other side, and three buttons, presumably for volume and power, are on the right side. Leaks suggest an external screen of approximately 5,49 inches and an internal screen of around 7,76 inches, both with OLED technology and high refresh rates.
An "Ultra" foldable phone with a very high-end price tag.
Several reports indicate that this The foldable iPhone will be integrated into a new line of high-end products. Apple is reportedly preparing a lineup of products under the "Ultra" label. This lineup would also include a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen OLED display and next-generation AirPods equipped with computer vision sensors, all designed to be positioned above the current "Pro" models.
In the specific case of the foldable iPhone, the price estimates they move around The 2.000 euros for the European marketThis is in line with the current price of a benchmark foldable phone. For reference, Samsung's latest Galaxy Z Fold started at just over €2.100 at its launch in Spain, so Apple's price would be in a similar range.
Sources closely following the supply chain point out that Foxconn is already involved in the pre-production phase The device is expected to launch in mid-2025, aiming for a presentation at the traditional September keynote. From there, its arrival in European stores could occur between late 2026 and early 2027, depending on manufacturing capacity.
This positioning in the "Ultra" range suggests that Apple is not aiming for massive volume from day one, but rather a A highly aspirational and expensive productThis is aimed at users willing to pay a premium for a new format within the iOS ecosystem. It wouldn't be surprising to see high storage capacities in the base configuration and specifications aligned with the most powerful iPhones of each generation.
Screens, hinges, and the goal of erasing the crease
Beyond the overall design, one of the keys to this project lies in the hinge and foldable screen technologyLeaks from the industry show that Apple has worked closely with Samsung Display to develop a panel in which the wrinkle is practically imperceptible visually appealing and as soft to the touch as possible.
The Korean brand has already managed to significantly reduce the crease in its latest Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip, but it's still noticeable when you run your finger along it. According to these reports, Apple is looking to take another step forward with a revised hinge system and materials designed to withstand thousands of openings without obvious deformations, improving durability and the feeling of continuity of the screen.
Rumors agree that the device will feature two 120Hz OLED panelsOne external screen, around 5,5 inches, and one internal screen, close to 7,8 inches when fully unfolded. This combination would allow the foldable iPhone to be used both as a "normal" mobile phone in a compact format, and in tablet mode for productivity and multimedia consumption.
No concrete details about the processor have been revealed so far. battery or camera configuration, beyond the dual rear lenses visible in the CAD models. It is reasonable to expect, however, that It incorporates a next-generation chip compatible with Apple Intelligence features. and with enough power headroom to handle multitasking on a large screen.
In terms of durability, it will be crucial to see how Apple balances thickness, weight, and dust and water resistance. The company tends to be conservative in these decisions, so it's possible that... prioritize robustness over an extremely thin design, at least in this first foldable generation.
The impact on the market: Samsung faces a serious new rival
For years Samsung has been the almost absolute benchmark in the foldable mobile phone marketThe brand arrived first, invested in flexible displays, and has been able to refine several generations of the Galaxy Fold and Flip without real pressure from its main competitor. That situation could change as soon as the foldable iPhone arrives in European stores.
Until now, many iPhone users who were attracted to the foldable format encountered a clear barrier: to try it, one had to abandon iOS and jump to AndroidThis means giving up services like iMessage, iCloud, or the use of an Apple Watch paired with the phone. This friction has always worked against foldable phones from other brands among Apple's most loyal customers.
With an iPhone Fold in the lineup, that door swings open. Suddenly, iPhone users in Spain or any other EU country could Switch to a foldable phone without abandoning your ecosystemits paid apps and current accessories. For Samsung, this means losing a portion of the potential of curious users who, until now, might have considered switching operating systems.
Even so, the Korean firm's dominance doesn't necessarily have to evaporate overnight. Samsung has Years of accumulated experience in hinges, protection, and customized softwareAnd it has a very loyal community in the Android space. It's expected that the arrival of the foldable iPhone will intensify competition in the high-end market, accelerating innovation in design, pricing, and features.
For the European consumer, this new scenario can translate into More options and more carefully crafted productsThis is because both companies will be forced to differentiate themselves not only in hardware, but also in the daily user experience of these flexible screens.
iOS, iPadOS and the software battle on big screens
Hardware is only one part of the equation. In foldable phones, the Software largely determines the feeling of being in the presence of something truly useful. And not just a flashy experiment. Here Apple has a significant advantage: its track record with iPadOS and adaptive interfaces.
Samsung has worked hand in hand with Google to optimize Android on the Galaxy Fold and Flip, enhancing features such as advanced multitasking and the simultaneous use of multiple applicationsModules like MultiStar, within Good Lock, allow you to force apps into different formats and take advantage of the flexible screen.
Apple, for its part, has spent years refining the iPadOS experience with windowing, Split View, drag and drop, and other gestures designed for large screens. If that experience is transferred to an iPhone that unfolds to a size close to that of a small iPad, The transition between phone mode and tablet mode could be especially smooth..
Another key factor will be the speed at which developers adapt their apps. On iOS, this usually happens rapid adoption of new screen formatsWhile many Android apps still don't fully utilize the larger screens, if Apple offers good tools from day one, the catalog of apps well-suited to the foldable iPhone could grow rapidly.
It remains to be seen how the company will address issues such as running multiple apps simultaneously, shortcuts for switching layouts, and integration with artificial intelligence features. But everything suggests that software will be one of the areas where Apple will try to differentiate itself to justify the move to this new format.
What can users in Spain and Europe expect?
In the European context, the foldable iPhone will arrive in a market where Mobile phones costing over 1.500 euros remain a niche market.But it boasts a particularly strong iPhone user base. Spain, France, Germany, and Italy have seen iOS adoption grow in recent years, providing an interesting breeding ground for a device of this type.
If the expected launch date of fall 2026 holds true, the iPhone Fold will most likely arrive in the European Union a few weeks after its release in other major markets. Apple typically includes key European countries in the initial distribution waves, especially for high-end products.
The question is how a a price of around 2.000 euros in the pockets of consumersIt is expected that many buyers will wait for operator offers, upgrade programs or installment financing, something quite common already with "traditional" iPhones in Spain.
The role of European regulations will also need to be monitored, from the requirements on the USB-C port (already present in recent iPhones) to the rules of sustainability and repairability. Foldable devices are more complex to repair, so the balance between design, durability, and after-sales service will be a sensitive issue.
In any case, the mere fact that Apple decides to launch a foldable iPhone in Europe could serve to standardize these types of devices among users who until now saw them as something exotic or immature, opening the door to a somewhat wider adoption of the format in the medium term.
The foldable iPhone isn't official yet, but the pieces are fitting together better and better.Book-like design, high-frequency OLED displays, reinforced hinge to minimize creasing, integration into a very high-priced "Ultra" range, and strong support from the iOS and iPadOS ecosystem. With Samsung as a direct rival and Europe as a key market, Apple's entry into the foldable market is poised to be one of the most significant moves in the mobile market in the coming years.
