Apple's First Foldable iPhone: A Premium AI-Driven Device Set for Late 2026 Launch

Kuo: Apple's First Foldable iPhone to Feature Book-Style Design, Sell for Over $2,000

Apple's first foldable iPhone should arrive around the end of 2026 or early 2027 with a book-style design and a premium price tag of over $2,000, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a report today, Kuo outlines his expectations for the device, noting that it will have an approximately 7.8-inch "crease-free" inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display, matching a rumor from last month. Kuo says that the foldable iPhone will measure between 9 and 9.5 mm when folded, and around 4.5 to 4.8 mm when unfolded. It will feature a titanium alloy casing with a hinge made of stainless steel and titanium alloy, and it will have a dual-lens rear camera with a front-facing camera for both folded and unfolded states. Notably, Kuo says that the phone will forgo Face ID authentication, instead using a Touch ID side button as a means to save precious internal space. It will also be positioned as a "true AI-driven phone," with the larger screens allowing for a better multi-tasking AI experience. With premium pricing above $2,000 and perhaps even above $2,500, Kuo believes the foldable iPhone will tap into Apple's loyal fanbase, some of whom will view it as a "must-have device" if its quality meets expectations. Kuo says Apple is aiming to finalize the specs of its first foldable iPhone during the second quarter of this year and officially kick off the project in the third quarter. Mass production is reportedly planned for the fourth quarter of 2026, so we could perhaps see a launch late next year or in early 2027. A second-generation model is said to be in the pipeline for a year later.

Apple's foldable iPhone tipped for late 2026 release with a very high price -- here's what we know

The long wait for Apple's first foldable might be coming to an end. The analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a decent track record when it comes to predicting the company's movements, has penned a long blog post revealing his expectations for the device. This includes a late 2026-to-early-2027 release date and a price north of $2,000. That high price tag could be even higher, as Kuo ambiguously writes that it will be "above $2,000 and $2,500". Still, it becomes a bit more reasonable when you learn that Apple is looking to make a book-style device that unfolds into a mini tablet, rather than a 21st-century flip phone. Samsung's equivalent device -- the Galaxy Z Fold 6 -- retails for $1,899, and the first generation was even pricier at $1,980, so reported pricing isn't completely out of kilter, even if it's objectively high. Kuo believes this won't be off-putting to Apple fans who will view it as a "must-have device" if it lives up to its potential. Interestingly, Apple apparently views the device as a "true AI-driven phone". The internal tablet-style screen will "enhance the AI experience", Kuo says, suggesting that users will be able to do things like organizing travel plans with a chatbot while viewing a map at the same time. The analyst also provides some hints at its design and even estimates of its dimensions. A 5.5-inch outer display will open onto a 7.8-inch internal screen, meaning its tablet form will have a slightly smaller screen than the 8.3-inch iPad mini 7. Kuo states that the internal panel will be "crease-free", echoing a recent report that stated Apple aimed to "eliminate the crease at all costs". When closed, Kuo believes the folding iPhone will measure between 9 and 9.5mm, which makes it chunkier than the 7.88mm iPhone 16 and 8.25mm iPhone 16 Pro, but not by all that much. Of course, this is halved when the handset is opened up, and Kuo predicts a thickness of between 4.5 and 4.8mm in this state. That's even thinner than the 5.1mm iPad Pro 2024, and comfortably beats even the most optimistic 5.44mm predictions for the upcoming iPhone 17 Air. To achieve this, it will use the "same high-density battery cells" as the upcoming thin handset, Kuo says. But there are drawbacks to going so thin. Kuo believes the folding iPhone "may" not have Face ID built-in thanks to the design challenges involved. Instead, he's predicting Touch ID on a side button for authentication, like on the iPad Air. There are other interesting design insights. The casing will apparently be titanium alloy, with a hinge forged from a stainless steel and titanium alloy. It will pack a dual-lens rear camera, with "one front-facing camera available in both folded and unfolded states." And we've already heard that Apple is doing everything it can to eliminate the visible crease that comes with a foldable design. While a foldable iPhone has allegedly been in the works for years, Kuo seems confident we're finally nearing the finish line. Final specifications are set to be locked in in the second quarter of this year, with the project officially kicking off in the third quarter. Mass production will follow just over a year later in the fourth quarter of 2026, suggesting a release at the end of 2026 or the start of 2027. It may be in short supply to begin with, as Kuo predicts that "the complexity of the first-generation foldable iPhone will cap volume production until 2027." The good news is that, assuming it proves popular, it looks set to become a regular part of Apple's lineup. Kuo states that mass production of the second-generation model will kick off in the second half of 2027. Foldable phones (often called just "foldables") tend to improve no end between the first and second generations, as users of both Samsung and Google's devices will know from experience, so possible shortages may not be such a bad thing. While other foldable makers will undoubtedly see Apple as a rival, they may welcome a folding iPhone. Such is the power of Apple's marketing, it could be just the thing to make foldable devices finally go mainstream -- especially if the folding iPhone makes similar Android-based handsets look like bargains by comparison. If you haven't yet, make sure you check out our guide to the best foldable phones you can currently buy.

Apple's Foldable AI iPhone Could Cost Over $2,000, 20 Million Units Shipped By 2027: Analyst - Alibaba Gr Hldgs (NYSE:BABA), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted Apple Inc's AAPL first foldable iPhone as a credible AI-driven smartphone. As per the analyst, multimodal functionality and cross-app integration are the trends in AI device use cases. He said larger screens enhance the AI experience, enabling scenarios like chatting with a chatbot about travel plans while simultaneously viewing a full map app. Also Read: ChatGPT Parent OpenAI's Specialized AI Agents Could Cost Up To $20 Thousand Per Month: report Kup expects Apple's first-generation foldable iPhone to retail above $2,000 and $2,500. Leveraging the iPhone's aspirational status, it will likely generate strong replacement demand despite the high price, provided the quality meets expectations. Kuo highlighted that Touch ID returns as a side button, as Face ID may be absent due to thickness and internal space constraints. According to the analyst, Apple will finalize specifications in the second quarter of 2025, with the official project kickoff in the third quarter of 2025 and mass production slated for the fourth quarter of 2026. The second-generation foldable iPhone will likely begin mass production in the second half of 2027. Kuo expects the complexity of the first-generation foldable iPhone to restrict volume production until 2027. Shipments will likely be at 3-5 million units for 2026. According to the analyst, with the second-generation model included, total foldable iPhone shipments could reach 20 million units in 2027. In February 2025, China's Oppo unveiled the AI-powered foldable Find N5 for 2,499 Singapore dollars ($1,867.70). Huawei Technologies Co launched the Mate XT trifold phone on September 20, 2024, for $2,800. Also Read: Alibaba Expands AI Push With New QwQ-32B Model Taking on DeepSeek In China's AI Race Photo: Shutterstock AAPLApple Inc$233.86-0.80%OverviewBABAAlibaba Group Holding Ltd$142.871.30%BIDUBaidu Inc$93.211.45%MSFTMicrosoft Corp$395.00-1.50%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

New foldable iPhone rumors predict Apple's bold plans - here are 6 things to expect, from cameras to launch date

It contains some surprises relating to the price and Touch ID The likes of Samsung and Google have produced some of the best foldable phones over the past few years, but Apple has remained conspicuously absent. That might not be the case for long, though, as a new report has laid out the company's folding iPhone plans in enticing detail. Look closely and you'll find a few surprises. The testimony comes from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a strong track record for Apple leaks. In the report, Kuo outlined his expectations of the device's starting price, its features, and how well it might sell. Here's the lowdown. Folding phones command a premium price tag, and it looks like Apple's attempt will be no different. Kuo estimates that the foldable iPhone will sell for "above $2,000," with the price potentially going as high as $2,500 (around £2,000 / AU$4,000). Considering the most expensive current-gen iPhone - the iPhone 16 Pro Max - starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149, that's a massive increase on the price of a flagship iPhone. It's also a decent chunk above what you'll pay for the top-end foldables from Samsung and Google, both of which charge around $1,800 for their devices. Yet that price might not matter. Given the iPhone's top-tier reputation and Apple's loyal fanbase, Kuo thinks the device will "generate strong replacement demand ... provided quality meets expectations." Mass production will apparently begin in the fourth quarter of 2026 and Apple is expected to sell 3.5 million units, Kuo says. A second-generation model is tipped to enter mass production in the second half of 2027 and could sell 20 million units. Artificial intelligence (AI) is all the rage at the moment, and Apple is getting in on the act with its own (albeit flawed) Apple Intelligence system. This will be front and center in the foldable iPhone, Kuo says, with the device being positioned as a "true AI-driven phone." That means it'll come with "Multimodal functionality and cross-app integration," Kuo says. "Larger screens [will] enhance the AI experience," he believes, "enabling scenarios like chatting with a chatbot about travel plans while viewing a full map app simultaneously." In other words, expect a truly next-gen iPhone that's been sorely needed for several years now. The foldable iPhone will apparently adopt a "book-style design," according to Kuo, with a vertical fold rather than one that crosses the device horizontally. That means it's likely to be a Galaxy Fold 7 rival (or perhaps a Galaxy Z Fold 8 alternative by that stage). Crucially, it will be crease-free, and the hinge will reportedly "combine stainless steel and titanium alloy, while the casing opts for titanium alloy," Kuo reports. As for the size, the device will apparently come with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen. It will be 9mm to 9.5mm thick when folded, the report claims, and 4.5mm to 4.8mm thick when unfolded. That would make the iPhone Fold (or whatever it's ultimately called) marginally thicker than the Oppo Find N5, which is 8.93mm thick when folded. But the camera bump will likely add a few millimeters to the total thickness anyway. When the iPhone 16e replaced the iPhone SE, Apple phased out Touch ID in all of its iPhones. Or did it? As per Kuo, Touch ID will return in the foldable iPhone. It will seemingly find its way into a side button, which sounds reminiscent of the Touch ID button in the iPad Air. Why might this old tech make a comeback when Face ID is more secure? Kuo states that "Face ID may be absent due to thickness and internal space constraints." Fancy yourself as a photographer? The foldable iPhone might not be your first choice in that case, as Kuo thinks it'll come with a dual-lens camera array. This will presumably be a little less advanced than the triple-lens setup you get with the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The dual-lens camera mirrors an earlier report on Apple's foldable iPhone from leaker There will also likely be a front-facing camera, and Kuo says you can expect "one front-facing camera [to be] available in both folded and unfolded states." Kuo quickly touched on the foldable iPhone's battery life, which he argues will feature "the same high-density battery cells as the ultra-thin iPhone 17." That's likely a reference to the iPhone 17 Air (or whatever it ends up being called), a rumored super-slim iPhone that's slated to launch in September of this year. We don't know what sort of battery life to expect from the foldable iPhone, though. But given Apple's past marketing habits, it could well still be touted as "all-day battery life" despite its slim design.

Apple's first foldable iPhone leaks: a 'true AI-driven' phone, up to $2500, ready for late 2026

TL;DR: Apple's first foldable iPhone, expected in late 2026, will be AI-driven with multimodal functionality and cross-app integration. Priced between $2000 and $2500, it features a 7.8-inch inner display, dual-lens rear camera, and Touch ID. Production begins in 2026, with shipments projected at 3-5 million units. Apple's first-gen foldable iPhone is in the headlines again, with reports that it'll be a "true AI-driven iPhone" that will be a "top-tier iPhone" with the first foldable iPhone expected to be priced at between $2000 and $2500 when it launches in late-2026. In a new post on Medium, insider Ming-Chi Kuo predicts what we'll see with Apple's first foldable iPhone. The insider says it'll be a true AI-driven iPhone -- hopefully, as Apple has well and truly fumbled AI with Siri and Apple Intelligence failures -- with multimodal functionality and cross-app integration being the trends in AI device use cases. The larger screen enhances the AI experience says Kuo, enabling scenarios like chatting with a chatbot about travel plans while viewing a full map app at the same time. Apple's first foldable will be a "top-tier iPhone" that will leverage the iPhone's status as a must-have device and Apple's loyal fanbase, are expected to generate strong replacement demand -- no matter the price -- provided that Apple meets quality standards. In terms of hardware, Kuo predicts we'll see the Touch ID return as the side button, and that Face ID might not make an apperance due to the thickness and internal space constraints. Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to have a book-style design, featuring around 7.8 inches of crease-free inner display, and around a 5.5-inch outer display. The rear-facing camera on the foldable iPhone is predicted as a dual-lens rig, with a front-facing camera available for both folded, and unfolded iPhone use. We should expect it to measure in at between 9mm and 9.5mm thick when folded, and when unfolded at around 4.5mm to 4.8mm thick. The hinge will combine stainless steel and titanium alloy, while Kuo predicts the casing opts for titanium alloy. Inside, we should expect Apple to use the same high-density battery cells as its upcoming ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. Min-Chi Kuo's predictions for Apple's first-gen foldable iPhone:

Apple's first foldable iPhone could cost up to $2500

Apple's first-generation foldable iPhone is drawing attention as new predictions from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo provide insights into its design, features, and release timeline. Here's what we know so far: Kuo believes the foldable iPhone will adopt a book-style design, with an approximately 7.8-inch crease-free inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display. The device will measure 9-9.5mm thick when folded and just 4.5-4.8mm when unfolded. The hinge will blend stainless steel and titanium alloy, while the casing will feature titanium alloy for durability and elegance. The phone will include a dual-lens rear camera and a front-facing camera for both folded and unfolded modes. Kuo expects the device to rely on Touch ID via a side button, as Face ID might not be included due to thickness and internal space challenges. Positioned as a "True AI-driven Phone," it will emphasize multimodal functionality and cross-app integration. The larger screens are expected to elevate the user experience by supporting simultaneous tasks, such as chatting with AI while viewing a map app, Kuo said. The foldable iPhone will debut in the premium segment, with an estimated price range of $2,000 to $2,500, Kuo noted. Despite the high cost, it is expected to attract strong interest from Apple's loyal customer base, provided it meets quality standards. According to Kuo, Apple plans to finalize the foldable iPhone's specifications by Q2 2025, with the project starting in Q3 2025. Mass production is expected to begin by Q4, 2026, with shipment projections of 3-5 million units for the initial year. The second-generation foldable iPhone, slated for 2H 2027, could drive combined foldable iPhone shipments to reach 20 million units by the end of 2027, Kuo added. However, the complex nature of the first-generation model will limit production volumes in its early years.

Apple's Book-Style Foldable iPhone: Know Release Date, Specs and Price

Apple Unveils First Foldable iPhone in 2026 with Top-Shelf Design and AI Features Apple is set to transform the smartphone market with the launch of its upcoming foldable iPhone, expected to be released in late 2026 or early 2027. Designed with a book-like shape aimed at premium customers, the foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch internal screen, a titanium alloy frame, and an innovative artificial intelligence capability that promises to revolutionize the smartphone industry. This article discusses the anticipated release date, features, and pricing of the new device.