📖 Read more: iPhone Flip: Apple's Clamshell Foldable Phone
When Does It Launch?
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Bloomberg, Nikkei Asia, and 9to5Mac :
Kuo warns of supply shortages possibly into 2027 due to production complexity — some users may need to wait until early 2027 .
Design — Book-Style
The iPhone Fold will be book-style (like Galaxy Z Fold), not a clamshell like the Z Flip. It resembles an iPad mini when unfolded (4:3 aspect ratio) .
- Inner display: 7.76″ OLED (2,713×1,920) — the largest iPhone screen ever
- Outer display: 5.49" (2,088×1,422) — cover display
- Thickness: ~4.5 mm open / 9-9.5 mm closed (thinner than Z Fold)
- Materials: Titanium + aluminum + liquid metal hinge
- SIM: eSIM only (no physical tray)
Crease-Free Display
Apple achieved the impossible . It uses Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) from Corning/Lens Technology instead of competitors' CPI plastic, a Samsung panel with Color Filter on Encapsulation (CoE) technology (brighter, thinner display), and a structural glass mid-frame for pure color reproduction.
Crease depth: under 0.15 mm — invisible to the eye. Crease angle: under 2.5° — flat surface with no ridge .
"Around 100 iPhone Folds were made after a breakthrough in eliminating the display crease."
— 9to5Mac, November 2025Liquid Metal Hinge
Apple uses liquid metal (amorphous metal) in the hinge — a material it has researched for 15+ years . It's more bend-resistant than titanium, with a stainless steel look. The frame combines titanium (stress areas) + aluminum (cooling/weight) 🔩.
Touch ID Instead of Face ID
A surprising decision: the iPhone Fold will use Touch ID in the power button instead of Face ID (like iPad mini). Reasons:
- Space constraints — no room for TrueDepth in the ultra-thin design
- Difficulty placing sensors in two positions (closed + open)
- BOM (Bill of Materials) cost reduction
However, the inner display will feature a 24MP under-display camera — a first for iPhone and the highest-resolution under-display camera in the industry .
Full Specs
- Chip: A20 Pro (2nm TSMC, WMCM packaging)
- Modem: Apple C2 with mmWave 5G + satellite NR-NTN
- Cameras: 2×48MP rear (Main + Ultra Wide) + hole-punch exterior + 24MP under-display interior
- Battery: 5,400-5,800 mAh (largest iPhone battery ever)
- SIM: eSIM only
- Biometrics: Touch ID in power button
Colors & Price
Apple is testing Deep Red as a special color (per Bloomberg), alongside classic options (black, white) 🟥. Pricing from $1,800-$2,500 (~€1,700-€2,400) — closer to $2,500 due to OLED panel costs. Still cheaper than Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold (~$3,000) .
After the Fold: Flip & Gen 2
Apple is already testing a flip-style (square clamshell) prototype to compete with the Galaxy Z Flip after 2026 . Additionally, the 2nd-gen iPhone Fold is expected in 2027 — the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone.
Summary
The iPhone Fold will be the biggest form factor change since 2007: crease-free UTG display at 7.8″, liquid metal hinge, A20 Pro 2nm, C2 satellite modem, 5,500+ mAh battery, 24MP under-display camera — at a premium price. The wait until fall 2026 will be worth it 🚀.
