UPDATE: 2026/04/07 14:58 EST BY JOE FEDEWA
Delayed due to engineering problems
According to a new report, Apple has run into “more issues than expected” with the iPhone Fold. Read the full update at the bottom of this article.
Rumors and leaks usually lead to real products, but that’s not always the case with Apple. Remember the Apple Car? So, when rumors of an iPhone Fold started popping up, people were understandably skeptical. The evidence is getting hard to ignore, though.
Rumors of a foldable iPhone predate the original Galaxy Fold. It’s certainly possible Apple was testing the technology at the same time as Samsung, but decided to play it safe. In the last year or so, however, the rumors and leaks have been gaining momentum, and it’s beginning to look like this time is different.
iPhone Fold size & design
Let’s start with the all-important question for a foldable: what type will it be? We typically see either book-style (Galaxy Z Fold) or flip-style (Motorola Razr) foldable phones. Thanks to a couple of different leaks, it appears the iPhone Fold could be a passport-shaped book-style.
Back in December, leaked CAD drawings revealed the potential design and dimensions for the iPhone Fold. It showed a device that’s shorter and wider than a standard iPhone when folded, with a 5.5-inch outside display. When opened, the inside display measures 7.7-inches—slightly smaller than an iPad Mini (8.3-inches). Thickness is around 10-11mm when closed
Then, earlier this month, a Turkish case manufacturer posted a video of what they claim to be an iPhone Fold mold. Metal casts are what manufacturers use to ensure their cases have a perfect fit. The cast lines up very closely with the CAD drawings, though the camera bar is slightly smaller. The overall size and aspect ratio is the same, though. Reports suggest the iPhone Fold could look like the iPhone Air.
If you’re curious to see these dimensions in more than a blurry Instagram video, the 3D printing community has used the CAD drawings to create full scale models of the iPhone Fold.
What about the display crease?
Obviously, the foldable display is always the focal point of a foldable phone. The technology in these screens has gotten considerably better in the last few years—which could be why Apple is hopping on board now.
As it does for regular iPhones, Apple is rumored to be using Samsung Display as its supplier. At CES this year, Samsung Display showed off a new crease-less OLED panel that uses a laser-drilled metal support plate to disperse stress. Reports indicate that this is the tech Apple plans to use for the iPhone Fold. This is a tried and true Apple tactic: Wait for tech to get better, then show everyone the “correct” way to make the product.
The other part of the crease equation is the hinge. Reports claim that Apple will be using a material called “Liquidmetal.” This is a metallic glass alloy that Apple has apparently used in smaller components inside devices. The benefits of Liquidmetal are that it’s stronger, lighter, and more rigid than titanium.
Other rumored specs of note
As the CAD drawings and case leak showed, there are rumored to be two cameras on the back of the iPhone. The secondary camera will be an ultra-wide, and both are said to be 48MP. There may also be a punch-hole camera on the outer display and an under-display camera on the inside display. However, due to design restraints, there won’t be Face ID—only Touch ID. Battery size is rumored to be around 5,000 to 5,800mAh.
Price & availability
Here’s where things get a little less concrete. Multiple reports have pointed to a late 2026 launch for the iPhone Fold. Apple typically announces new phones in the Fall. Other reports, however, have claimed it could be announced in 2026, but ship primarily in 2027. It’s also entirely possible that manufacturing issues cause the project to be pushed to 2027 entirely.
Whenever the iPhone Fold launches, it will be the most expensive iPhone ever sold. That will come as no surprise to anyone. Reports suggest it will be in the $2,000 to $2,500 range, which is a very safe assumption that anyone could make. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 costs $2,000, and smartphones are generally priced similarly across brands.
Updates
UPDATE: 2026/04/07
A new report from Nikkei claims that Apple has run into some engineering problems during the iPhone Fold’s early testing. This setback could push the launch back by several months. The sources say that Apple’s component suppliers have been told the iPhone Fold’s production schedule will be delayed. We don’t know the exact issues that have popped up, but this stage is typically the fourth step in a six-step process that new devices must go through before final release. As mentioned in the original article above, a 2027 launch was always a real possibility, and it’s looking like that may be reality.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
