Apple has never made a foldable phone.
While Samsung has been selling foldable phones since 2019, while Google launched its Pixel Fold, while Motorola and Xiaomi have had flip phones for years — Apple stayed completely silent. No leaks. No hints. No prototypes.
Until now.
In 2026, Apple is finally ready to enter the foldable phone market. The device is called the iPhone Fold — or possibly the iPhone Ultra — and it is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about phones in Apple history.
This is not just a phone that folds. It is Apple's biggest bet on AI. It comes with a completely rebuilt Siri, powerful new Apple Intelligence features, and a giant screen designed to make AI tools more useful than ever before.
Here is everything we know — confirmed leaks, rumours, and what to expect — all explained in simple words.
Why is Apple Making a Foldable Phone Now?
Apple is famously patient. They do not rush into new product categories. They wait until the technology is good enough — and then they try to do it better than everyone else.
Remember when Samsung had big touchscreen phones for years before iPhone? Apple waited. Then they launched the original iPhone in 2007 and changed everything.
The same pattern is happening with foldable phones.
Samsung, Google, and others have been selling foldable phones for several years. The early versions had obvious problems — visible creases on the screen, hinges that broke, thick and heavy designs. Not good enough for Apple.
But now the technology has improved enough. Screens are better. Hinges are more durable. And most importantly — AI has made larger screens genuinely useful in a way they were not three years ago.
Apple looked at all of this and decided — now is the right time.
What is the iPhone Fold Going to Look Like?
Based on multiple reliable leaks from supply chain sources and respected analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman — here is what the iPhone Fold is expected to look like:
Book-style design — It folds like a book. Not a flip phone that folds top to bottom. A book phone that opens left to right, like a small tablet folded in half.
Two screens — When closed it looks like a normal phone. When you open it, a large tablet-sized screen is revealed inside.
Incredibly thin — When fully open, the iPhone Fold is expected to be just 4.5 millimetres thin. That is thinner than any phone Apple has ever made. Even most regular phones are 7-8mm thick. This would be extraordinary.
When folded — The closed device would be around 9 millimetres thick — similar to a regular iPhone.
Titanium build — Same premium titanium material used in iPhone 16 Pro. Stainless steel and titanium hinge for durability.
iPhone Fold Screen Sizes
| Screen | Size | When |
|---|---|---|
| Outer display | 5.5 inches | When phone is closed |
| Inner display | 7.76 — 7.8 inches | When phone is open |
The inner screen at 7.8 inches is roughly the size of a small iPad. This is the biggest screen ever on an iPhone — and it completely changes how you use AI features, apps, and multitasking.
Key Specs — What Is Inside?
| Feature | Expected Spec |
|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A20 Pro chip |
| Process | 2nm (extremely fast and efficient) |
| RAM | Advanced stackable RAM (Samsung supply) |
| Rear cameras | Dual 48MP setup |
| Front camera | Supports both folded and unfolded mode |
| Face ID | ❌ NOT included |
| Touch ID | ✅ In the power button instead |
| Thickness (open) | 4.5mm |
| Thickness (closed) | ~9mm |
| OS | iOS 27 |
| Telephoto | ❌ NOT included |
Why No Face ID?
This surprised many people. Apple is removing Face ID from the iPhone Fold — replacing it with Touch ID in the side power button.
The reason is simple — space. Making a phone 4.5mm thin while folding in half leaves almost no room inside. The Face ID sensors take up too much internal space. Apple chose to keep the ultra-thin design and sacrifice Face ID.
Why No Telephoto Camera?
Same reason — no room. A phone 4.5mm thin cannot physically fit a telephoto module. Apple went with dual 48MP cameras (main + ultrawide) and skipped the telephoto lens that you get on iPhone Pro models.
The A20 Pro Chip — What Makes It Special
The iPhone Fold will run on Apple's A20 Pro chip — built on a 2 nanometer process. This is the most advanced chip Apple has ever put in a phone.
In simple terms:
2nm process = More transistors in the same space
= Faster performance
= Better battery efficiency
= More powerful AI processing
The A20 Pro can run AI tasks directly on the phone — without needing to connect to the internet. This is called on-device AI and it is crucial for Apple's privacy promise. Your personal AI assistant processes your data on the phone itself, not on some company's server.
This chip is specifically designed to run Apple Intelligence features faster and more reliably than any previous iPhone chip.
The AI Features — This Is the Most Exciting Part
Apple is positioning the iPhone Fold as a "true AI phone" — not just a phone that folds. The large inner screen combined with the A20 chip creates new possibilities for AI that were not possible on smaller phones.
1. Completely Rebuilt Siri
The biggest AI announcement coming with the iPhone Fold is a brand new Siri.
The current Siri that most people know — the one that mishears you, gives wrong answers, and frustrates people — is being completely replaced.
The new Siri is built using Large Language Model technology — the same technology that powers ChatGPT and Claude AI. This means the new Siri will actually understand what you are asking, hold a proper conversation, and give genuinely helpful answers.
Apple even hired a former Google and Microsoft AI researcher named Amar Subramanya as its new VP of AI to lead this transformation. This is a clear signal that Apple is taking AI extremely seriously.
What new Siri can do:
- Understand complex, multi-part questions
- Remember context from earlier in your conversation
- Take actions across multiple apps
- Answer questions about what is on your screen
- Have natural conversations like a real assistant
The new Siri will launch with iOS 27 — which arrives alongside the iPhone Fold.
2. Apple Intelligence on a Bigger Screen
Apple Intelligence is Apple's suite of AI features introduced in 2025. On a 7.8-inch screen these features become dramatically more useful:
Writing Tools — AI that helps you write, edit, and rewrite text anywhere on your phone. On a large screen you can see the AI's suggestions alongside your original text and edit properly.
Smart Summarisation — The AI reads your emails, messages, and notifications and gives you a quick summary of what is important. On a big screen this becomes a proper dashboard view.
Image Playground — Create AI-generated images on your phone. On a 7.8-inch screen the creative space is much more like using a tablet than a phone.
Genmoji — AI creates custom emoji based on what you describe. Sounds simple but incredibly popular.
3. Visual Intelligence — See the World Through AI
This is one of the most revolutionary features coming. You point your camera at something and the AI instantly tells you about it.
- Point at a restaurant — AI shows reviews and menu
- Point at a plant — AI identifies the species
- Point at text in another language — AI translates it instantly
- Point at a product — AI finds the best price online
- Point at a QR code — AI understands what it is
On a 7.8-inch screen, this becomes a genuinely immersive experience. The camera sees, the AI understands, and the large screen shows you rich information.
4. AI Multitasking on the Large Screen
The big inner screen allows true split-screen multitasking — two full-size apps running side by side. But with AI, this becomes something more:
- Have an AI conversation on one side while taking notes on the other
- Browse the web on one side while AI summarises the content on the other
- Video call on one side while AI looks up information relevant to your conversation
This is genuinely new territory for an iPhone and it requires the large screen to work properly.
5. Google Gemini Integration
According to industry analysis, Apple is also expected to integrate Google's Gemini AI models into Siri under Apple Intelligence. This gives iPhone users access to one of the world's most powerful AI systems — directly inside Siri.
This would make the iPhone Fold's AI assistant arguably more capable than anything Samsung or Google offers on their own foldable phones.
Release Date — When Is It Coming?
This is where things get complicated.
Original target: Fall 2026 — alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September
Current situation: In early April 2026, Japanese publication Nikkei Asia reported engineering setbacks more complex than expected. Suppliers were notified of possible delays.
Current estimates:
Optimistic → September/October 2026
Realistic → Late 2026 (November/December)
Pessimistic→ Early 2027
As of April 2026, the device is in trial production at Foxconn. A fall 2026 launch is still the target — but it is tighter than it looked a few months ago.
Apple has officially confirmed nothing. Everything above comes from leaks and supply chain sources.
Price — How Much Will It Cost?
Prepare yourself for this number.
The iPhone Fold is expected to cost over $2,000 in the USA.
In India that translates to approximately ₹1,74,000 or more.
For comparison:
iPhone 16 Pro Max → ~$1,199 / ₹1,34,900
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 → ~$1,799 / ₹1,64,999
iPhone Fold (expected) → ~$2,000+ / ₹1,74,000+
This will make the iPhone Fold the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. It is not a phone for everyone — it is Apple's ultra-premium flagship aimed at people who want the absolute best.
iPhone Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold — Quick Comparison
| Feature | iPhone Fold | Samsung Z Fold 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Inner screen | 7.8 inches | 7.6 inches |
| Thickness (open) | 4.5mm 🏆 | 12.1mm |
| Chip | A20 Pro 🏆 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Face ID | ❌ (Touch ID) | ❌ |
| AI assistant | New Siri + Apple Intelligence | Galaxy AI |
| Price | $2,000+ | $1,799 |
| Available | Late 2026 | Available now |
The iPhone Fold wins clearly on thinness — 4.5mm vs Samsung's 12.1mm is a massive difference. But Samsung's foldable is available today. iPhone Fold is still months away.
Should You Buy It?
Buy it if:
✅ You love Apple ecosystem and want the best
✅ You want the most powerful AI iPhone ever
✅ Budget is not a concern ($2,000+)
✅ You are an early adopter who loves new tech
✅ You need a large screen for productivity
Wait if:
⏳ You want to wait for reviews first
⏳ Budget is important — iPhone 17 Pro is cheaper
⏳ You want to see if there are launch issues
⏳ The 2nd generation (2027) will be more refined
⏳ You are happy with your current iPhone
The honest advice from most analysts — if you are interested in foldable iPhones, waiting for the second generation in 2027 is probably smarter. First generation products always have issues that get fixed in the second version.
Final Thoughts
The iPhone Fold is not just a phone that folds. It is Apple's biggest statement about the future of smartphones.
A 7.8-inch screen. The world's most advanced mobile chip. A completely rebuilt AI-powered Siri. Visual Intelligence. Google Gemini integration. Apple Intelligence features that finally work properly.
And all of this in a device 4.5 millimetres thin when open — thinner than a pencil.
Apple watched the foldable market for years. They saw Samsung's problems. They waited until the technology was ready. And now they are making their move.
Whether the iPhone Fold launches in September 2026 or slips to early 2027 — one thing is certain. When Apple enters the foldable market, nothing will be the same.
The wait is almost over.
