Is Apple Launching Foldable iPhone In 2026? Here’s What We Know

Apple is expected to foray into the foldable smartphone market in 2026, if reports are to be believed. This would be a significant step for a company which has so far held back from venturing into the foldable segment. 

According to display analyst Ross Young, Apple might go ahead to launch its first foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026. 

Apple, with a dominant position in the flagship smartphone market, could significantly boost growth for foldable phones in 2026, potentially proving a record year for the segment.

The buzz that the company will soon be launching a foldable iPhone gathered momentum from the fact that Apple is said to be planning the debut of its first consumer electronics device with its in-house cellular modem — the purported fourth generation iPhone SE model that is expected to go official in early 2025. The company’s modem is expected to replace a component sourced from Qualcomm, which could pave the way for slimmer iPhone models, eventually leading to a foldable iPhone.

Foldable smartphones have been gaining popularity over the past few years with several brands including Samsung, Huawei, and Motorola churning out attractive models appealing mostly to the youth.  Samsung, in particular, has been a dominant force with its Galaxy Z series, continuously getting better with each iteration in foldable design and durability. 

However, Apple’s entry into the foldable market is anticipated to grab even more attention as the tech giant is renowned for its meticulous outlook to hardware and software integration, making consumers all the more keen to explore. 

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Although nothing is official yet, if Apple were to indeed develop a book-style foldable iPhone, it could likely use iPadOS as the operating system to power the device. iPadOS will be suitable to run the handset as it offers efficient software and multitasking experience for iPads.

For Apple, making a foray into the foldable smartphone market would be a significant milestone for the company.  By joining the foldable bandwagon, the iPhone maker has the potential to reshape the industry, as the brand is known for setting new standards and raising the bar in the field of innovation.