Apple is working on a variety of new iPhone models for the future, which will allow it to lead the new generation of smartphones. While rumors of a new ultra-thin variant of iPhone 17 are in the news, we are now hearing that the company is working on different versions of its first foldable device, which could be an iPhone or an iPad. It was previously expected that the company would release the device in 2025, but later on, it was reported that due to supply constraints and technical issues, the foldable will be released in 2026.
Apple's first foldable iPad could see a delay stretching to 2026
Jeff Pu, a prominent analyst, states in his latest research notes that Apple will launch its first foldable iPad in 2026 instead of 2025, and it only goes to show that the company is having issues with the design and its technicalities (via MacRumors). Pu also highlighted that the company's iPhone 17 lineup, conjoined with Apple Intelligence, will boost iPhone sales, especially in China. However, Apple foldable has seen some "pushout," which means that the devices have seen a delay from what we were originally expecting.
As mentioned, there could be two reasons why the company could be pushing the launch dates ahead, which might lead to the current models stretching a year or so ahead in the market with their standard looks. Apple could be adhering to developmental challenges, and the lack of advancements in technology has a lot to do with it. For instance, Apple could be waiting for the hinge mechanism to be perfected, which is a crucial part of foldable devices. Additionally, manufacturing-wise, component yields could be lower than expected, which could increase the overall cost of the device, which is something we have seen with the Vision Pro.
We believe that the company will release the foldable iPhone before a larger foldable device, which has been rumored for a while as well. The larger device could be an iPad or Mac hybrid with a 20.3-inch display, and it could be the company's first device to feature an iPadOS and macOS hybrid experience. As for the iPhone, it was reported earlier that the company is planning to offer a Fold version and a Flip version of the foldable iPhone, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip series from Samsung. However, precise details are scarce at this stage, and we would advise users to take the news with a grain of salt.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
