iPhone Fold: This is what Apple's first foldable iPhone will be like

  • Apple is reportedly preparing to launch its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro range in the fall of 2026.
  • The iPhone Fold would opt for a book-like design, 7,8" internal and 5,3" external screens, and a very reduced thickness.
  • It would feature the new 2nm A20 Pro chip with WMCM packaging and 12GB of RAM, with AI built into the device itself.
  • An OLED screen without a visible crease, side Touch ID, and a new staggered release strategy from Apple are expected.

iPhone Fold foldable

Apple's first foldable phone already has almost all its features cards on the tableAccording to a cascade of leaks from the supply chain and specialized analysts like Jeff Pu, this seems to be the case. While the company hasn't officially confirmed anything, the so-called iPhone Fold It aims to become one of the most talked-about releases in recent years within the iOS ecosystem.

The reports all point to the same scenario: a book-like folding device, with large screens, next-generation hardware Focused on artificial intelligence and a strong commitment to ultra-thin design. All this accompanied by a launch strategy that differs from the norm, with a particular impact on key markets such as Spain and the rest of Europe, where the foldable segment has been consolidating for some time.

iPhone Fold presentation date and launch strategy

The latest notes from supply chain analysts indicate that Apple is preparing the iPhone Fold presentation by September 2026This coincides with the arrival of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. This would fit with the company's traditional fall event, where it usually makes its most high-profile announcements.

The idea would be to position the folding device as flagship model within the high-end rangeAnd not as an isolated experiment. In fact, there's talk that it would share much of its hardware with the iPhone 18 Pro, allowing Apple to sell it as a flagship device and not as a "niche" product.

Meanwhile, several leaks indicate a significant change in the schedule: the iPhone 18 “standard” and possible variants like an iPhone 18 Air They would be delayed until spring 2027. This would entail the adoption of a staggered release strategywith the most expensive models and those with the highest profit margins concentrated in autumn and the rest of the catalog arriving months later.

For the European user, this move could translate into a greater visibility of the iPhone Fold in the end-of-year campaign, focusing on markets where foldable phones already compete head-to-head with traditional premium ranges, as is the case in Spain, Germany, or France.

Regarding the price, various reports suggest a figure around 2.000 euros or even a little moreThis puts it in the same league as benchmark foldable phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, which costs around €2.200 in Spain. Apple would thus be operating in the ultra-premium device market, where the high price is part of the product's positioning.

iPhone Fold design

Book-style folding design and screens: 7,8 inches inside, 5,3 inches outside

Supply chain leaks agree that the iPhone Fold would opt for a book-type formatSimilar to other large-format foldable phones, but tailored to Apple's design philosophy. Upon opening it, the user would find a foldable internal OLED screen of about 7,8 inchesdesigned for productivity tasks, multimedia consumption and multitasking.

When the device is closed, the main interaction would be through a external screen of approximately 5,3 inchesAlso OLED. This relatively small screen size would allow for comfortable one-handed use, which is key for everyday mobility in European cities where intensive mobile phone use on public transport is the norm.

One of the points that is generating the most buzz is the possible arrival of a screen without visible creaseRumors from CES Las Vegas 2026 indicate that Samsung Display may have accidentally shown a prototype of a flexible OLED panel developed specifically for Apple, in which the classic crease in the hinge area disappears to the naked eye.

According to these leaks, Apple and Samsung Display have been working on a project for years. flexible layered structure and a new hinge system This would allow the panel to be folded without leaving a noticeable crease. This solution would go a step further than what has been seen in foldable screens already available in Europe, where the crease is smaller than in previous generations, but is still noticeable both to the touch and visually.

It is also rumored that, once unfolded, the internal screen of the iPhone Fold would have a slightly more landscape format That's great. This approach would offer a comfortable experience for watching videos, consulting documents, or working with several apps simultaneously, something especially attractive for professionals who use their phones as mini workstations.

Thickness and materials: one of the thinnest foldable laptops on the market

Another engineering goal mentioned in the reports is the device thicknessApple is reportedly aiming for a thickness of around 9,0-9,5 mm when the iPhone Fold is folded, and around 4,5 mm when unfolded. If achieved, it would place it among the thinnest foldable phones available todayThis is key to ensuring that the jump from a "classic" iPhone is not abrupt.

Regarding construction, the leaks suggest a combination of titanium and aluminum in the iPhone Fold chassis. Titanium would provide rigidity and resistance to torsion and impacts, something especially important in a hinged device, while aluminum would help to contain weight and manufacturing costs.

This choice of materials would differentiate the folding car from the others. iPhone 18 ProAccording to some reports, they will once again rely entirely on aluminum instead of the titanium used in previous generations. In practice, the iPhone Fold would be positioned as an even more exclusive product within Apple's high-end range.

The design efforts wouldn't be limited to the external appearance. One of the stated objectives in the leaks is minimize panel wrinkling, reinforce the hinge and ensure long-term durability. Apple reportedly delayed its entry into the foldable market precisely to avoid the reliability and wear issues that plagued early models from other manufacturers.

All this engineering work is designed so that the European user who considers paying more than 2.000 euros for a foldable mobile phone perceives a feeling of solidity and mature productand not that of a first “experimental” generation.

iPhone Fold internal display

A20 Pro 2nm chip, WMCM and 12GB of RAM: the heart of the iPhone Fold

In terms of power, everything indicates that Apple will not compromise. The iPhone Fold would share the new processor with the iPhone 18 Pro. A20 Pro chip, manufactured by TSMC using a 2 nm (N2) process. This node jump usually translates into Higher performance with lower energy consumptionThis is key in a device that has to power two screens and increasingly demanding AI tasks.

One of the most interesting technical innovations is the use of WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module) packagingThis technology would allow components such as memory to be integrated directly onto the logic wafer, reducing internal distances, improving bandwidth, and decreasing latency.

For the end user, this type of packaging would translate into a faster system responseespecially in processes involving large volumes of data, such as image processing, video editing, or artificial intelligence functions executed on the device itself.

Leaks also indicate that the iPhone Fold would feature 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, aligning with the iPhone 18 Pro. This increase compared to previous generations is directly related to the arrival of Apple Intelligence and other advanced AI toolswhich require a lot of memory to function smoothly without always depending on the cloud.

In Europe, where regulations on privacy and data processing are particularly strict, this commitment to Local AI on the phone This could become a compelling argument, by reducing the need to send personal information to external servers to perform complex tasks.

Biometrics and the absence of Face ID: Touch ID takes center stage once again

One of the most striking changes concerns biometric authentication. Several sources agree that the iPhone Fold I would do away with Face ID as we know it, and I would bet instead on Touch ID integrated into the side power button.

This decision would be related to both the available internal space as with the very nature of a foldable device. Integrating Face ID's complex sensor system and structured light projector into such a thin chassis with two screens would pose a significant challenge and could complicate the design of the hinge and internal panel.

Furthermore, Touch ID on a side button would offer a consistent experience in both folded and unfolded modesThe user could unlock the device or authorize payments without depending on the angle at which the device is open or the position of the front camera, something that can vary very frequently in a foldable format.

This approach would be reminiscent of what Apple already does in several iPad models, where the fingerprint reader integrated into the power button has become a practical and quick solution. In the case of the iPhone Fold, it would also help eliminate features like Dynamic Island on the external screen, freeing up more usable space for content.

iPhone Fold Cameras and Photo Settings

In terms of photography, leaks paint a picture of a device that doesn't intend to lag behind the Pro models. There's talk of a dual rear module with two 48-megapixel sensors, one main lens with seven elements and another with six-element optics, probably intended for zoom or ultra-wide-angle functions.

This approach would allow maintaining a highly competitive image quality compared to other high-end foldable phones already on the market in Spain and the rest of Europe, where the camera factor is key for many buyers.

The front would also have its own unique feature: the iPhone Fold would incorporate two 18 megapixel camerasOne in the area corresponding to its use in folded mode and another on the internal panel for when the device is unfolded. This way, the user would have access to High-quality selfies and video calls in both modes, without always having to use the main camera with the phone open.

This type of configuration aims to make the folding device feel like a Full iPhone in any positionand not as a terminal with limited functions depending on whether it is closed or open, something that still hinders the experience in some competing models.

Relationship with the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple's new roadmap

iPhone Fold and iPhone 18 Pro

The iPhone Fold won't arrive alone. All leaks point to Apple presenting three high-end models in autumn 2026The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Fold itself. All three would share the A20 Pro chip and 12 GB of RAM, placing them at the top of the lineup.

In the case of the iPhone 18 Pro, it is expected that they will maintain screen diagonals around 6,3 inches for the Pro model y 6,9 inches for the Pro Maxwith a more evolutionary design. The big news, according to several reports, would be the arrival of a Face ID hidden under the screenThis would allow the presence of Dynamic Island to be reduced even further, to the point of being almost symbolic.

This difference would mark a clear contrast with the iPhone Fold: while the Pro models would continue to focus on Face ID as a mark of identityThe foldable phone would rely on a side Touch ID for purely practical reasons and to make the most of the space.

In terms of cameras, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max would feature a triple 48-megapixel systemincluding a periscope telephoto lens to improve zoom, which would give them a slight advantage over the dual-lens camera on the iPhone Fold. Even so, the overall idea is to maintain a performance parity and capabilities very high among all high-end models.

For consumers in Spain and Europe, this roadmap would imply that The switch to a foldable design wouldn't require sacrificing power, memory, or AI features.The choice would be more linked to the device format than to pure performance.

The fold-free screen as a possible main selling point in Europe

If anything can make a difference in the European market, which is very sensitive to the perception of quality and durability, it is the aforementioned screen without visible creaseThe traditional "groove" in the center of foldable phones has been the main complaint of many users who hesitated to make the switch to this type of device.

Rumors suggest that Apple is collaborating closely with Samsung Display on a next generation flexible OLED panel They aim precisely to solve this problem. The combination of new materials, more elastic layers, and a revised hinge mechanism could result in a virtually smooth surface when the phone is unfolded.

At trade shows like CES in Las Vegas, prototypes of this technology were reportedly showcased, with screens that leave no visible mark when openedThis would fit with Apple's philosophy of not entering a category until it can offer something clearly different from what is already available.

In a market like Spain, where users increasingly value the relationship between price, durability and user experienceThis type of improvement could become a decisive factor in justifying such a high investment compared to other Android foldables or even a traditional iPhone Pro.

The iPhone Fold is shaping up to be a very premium foldable device, aimed at both those seeking the latest innovation within the Apple ecosystem and professional users who need a large screen in a relatively compact form factor. The combination of Seamless display, 2nm A20 Pro chip, 12GB of RAM, ultra-thin design, and side Touch IDThis, coupled with a joint launch with the iPhone 18 Pro in the fall of 2026 and a staggered strategy of models for 2027, paints a picture in which Apple not only enters the foldable market, but does so with the intention of setting the pace in Europe and, presumably, throughout the world.

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