Just around a week ago, a relatively obscure analyst created something of an upheaval when he declared that the iPhone Fold won't actually go on sale until December 2026. Now, a much more authoritative tipster has added his weight behind this delayed launch thesis.
Apple is opting for a staggered launch strategy for the iPhone 18 Pro duo and the iPhone Fold
Until recently, Apple was expected to debut the iPhone Fold alongside the iPhone 18 Pro duo in September 2026, while the iPhone 18e, the base iPhone 18, and the iPhone Air 2 were expected to launch in the spring of 2027.
Then, Barclays analyst, Tim Long, noted in a research note earlier in March that Apple might only be able to ship the iPhone Fold in December 2026.
Now, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also seemingly concurred with this thesis, noting during a recent Live Q&A session that the iPhone Fold would likely not ship alongside the iPhone 18 Pro duo in September 2026.
Do note that Tim Cook had flagged TSMC's choked capacity for advanced nodes and the ongoing memory upheaval as key concerns in a recent earnings call. As such, given these constraints, it makes sense for Apple to stagger the launch of its star products.
Apple's iPhone Fold is expected to leverage a modified hinge mechanism made out of 'liquid metal.' Moreover, in order to minimize the display crease, Apple is reportedly mulling sandwiching the actual display layer between a dual layer of UTG/UFG (Ultra-Thin Glass/Ultra-Thin Flexible Glass) to prevent the mechanical wear-and-tear from repeated contact with the hinge mechanism and to better distribute the stress during the folding process. According to Taiwan's Economic Daily, the depth of the crease on the iPhone Fold would be a minuscule 0.15mm.
Apple will also reportedly apply a color filter - called the CoE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) - onto the protective encapsulation layer of the iPhone Fold's OLED panel, rendering the resulting displays thinner, lighter, and much more efficient.
Under a CoE regime, the more conventional, thick circular polarizer layer is replaced with a thinner, directly deposited color filter layer. When combined with a black pixel definition layer (PDL), the combo results in significantly higher light transmittance and reduced power consumption. Of course, for a foldable, thinner displays result in markedly reduced stress, which improves longevity and allows for a smaller folding radius.
Meanwhile, according to a fresh report out of South Korea, Apple is apparently eyeing a base price of around $2,000 for the upcoming iPhone Fold, which, if realized, would constitute a substantial discount to the heretofore rumored price of between $2,300 and $2,400.
This comes as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported recently that the iOS version on the iPhone Fold will sport "iPad-like layouts and side-by-side apps, enhancing the device’s appeal for multitasking," albeit with a simpler multitasking system instead of the more desktop-like UI introduced in iPadOS 26. Also, the internal screen on the device is expected to be the size of an iPad, replete with a wider aspect ratio, while the outer screen would resemble "the size of the display on a small iPhone." This aligns with previous reports that had postulated a passport-like, wide form factor for the device.
According to Gurman, the iPhone Fold's external display will sport a small hole-punch cutout, albeit with the Dynamic Island UI for viewing notifications. Also, Apple has removed the Face ID system in its entirety and instead integrated Touch ID into the side button. As for the inner display, while Apple is still experimenting with an under-display camera, ongoing tests have only produced images with subpar quality, dramatically reducing the tech's probability of showing up on production-ready iPhone Fold units. The device will also feature a dual rear camera setup, with previous reports alluding to a 48MP resolution for both cameras.
Other details include:
- A dedicated vapor chamber.
- A 2,713 x 1,920 resolution, with a 4:3 aspect ratio.
- Side-mounted Touch ID instead of Face ID.
- A20 Pro SoC, 12GB RAM, in-house C2 5G modem.
- A 48MP resolution for the rear dual-camera setup.
- A selfie camera with a resolution of up to 24MP.
- A battery with a capacity of 5,400-5,800mAh.
- To launch as an eSIM-only variant.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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