iPhone Fold is finally coming? Apple’s first foldable leaks its design, price and launch window

Have you noticed that phones have been trending toward larger screens in recent years, with foldables becoming a favorite among style-conscious women? Following market leader Samsung and newer players vivo and Xiaomi, Apple is also preparing to enter the foldable race, with a new foldable iPhone expected this fall.

• Related reading: The foldable phones Korean women are using: How do the new Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 compare?

iPhone Fold design revealed: a phone when closed, a mini iPad when opened?

Recent CAD renders and 3D models suggest that Apple’s first foldable could move away from the traditional iPhone’s slim, elongated silhouette in favor of shorter, wider proportions. When folded, it resembles a polished little booklet; opened up, its display is said to have an aspect ratio close to 4:3, giving it a look more akin to the iPad mini. This wider design differs significantly from the squarer proportions of current Android foldables, making it especially appealing for those who stream shows and movies on their phones.

Design highlight: Can Apple deliver the long-rumored crease-free display?

For foldable phones, one concern always rises to the top: the crease that’s visible no matter how you look at it. Though the technology has come a long way, foldables currently on the market still can’t completely overcome this physical limitation. It’s also one reason Apple has held off for so long.

According to supply-chain sources and analysts, the iPhone Fold will combine higher-cost ultra-thin flexible glass (UFG) with a liquid-metal hinge, with the goal of making the crease almost invisible. The real-world result will, of course, need to be verified on the actual device. Still, if Apple succeeds in addressing the crease issue, it could raise the design bar for premium foldables once again.

Specs and price predictions

Rumors suggest the iPhone Fold will have an inner display measuring around 7.7-7.8 inches and an outer screen of roughly 5.3-5.5 inches. When folded, it is expected to be about 9 mm thick, slightly thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. For biometric authentication, the foldable may forgo Face ID in favor of Touch ID built into the power button, a setup better suited to a folding design and one that many longtime Apple fans will welcome back.

The phone is expected to feature four cameras in total: one front-facing camera for each display and a dual-camera setup on the back. That could mean no telephoto lens, which may be a slight disappointment for photography enthusiasts. Then there’s the price, the detail that truly takes one’s breath away. The iPhone Fold is predicted to cost around US$ 2,000 to US$ 2,500 (approximately NT$ 64,000 to NT$ 80,000), likely making it the most expensive iPhone in Apple’s history.

Expected to debut officially this fall

According to recent overseas reports, Apple will not release the standard iPhone 18 in 2026, instead delaying it until the following spring. Given this shift in its product schedule, most analysts expect the iPhone Fold to appear alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at this fall’s launch event. Large-scale production and shipments may not begin until 2027, however. Would you pay for this foldable iPhone?

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