iPhone Fold leaks, rumors, and renders: Everything we know

The long-awaited foldable iPhone – rumored to be called the iPhone Fold – it should it arrives in 2026. So far, Apple has kept a tight lid on its first ever foldable phone, but all signs point to a fall or winter 2026 release.

Early adopters already love foldables — and they have plenty of options — but Apple wasn’t into the genre. However, don’t count Apple out. The company has a history of arriving late to the party and cornering the market entirely, just as AirPods and iPhones did with MP3 players and smartphones.

So, as we await official details, here’s everything we know about the next addition to the iPhone lineup, including the latest rumors, possible specifications, release date, and pricing information.

When will the iPhone Fold be released?

We originally thought that the iPhone Fold would arrive in the fall of 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Many rumors pointed to this last year. However, while Apple traditionally releases all of its new iPhones in September, the Fold may not be ready then.

A technology analyst named Tim Long recently said that the shipment of the iPhone Fold will start in December of this year, not in September, so it could be a winter device instead of an autumn one. Of course, Apple still can announce in September, but it may not be available right away like the iPhone 18 model.

At the moment, Long is the only one reporting that the iPhone Fold (or iFold?) will arrive after September, so it could be on store shelves soon. Given the global memory shortage, last-minute delays are also possible, so we’ll have to wait and see.

How much will the iPhone Fold cost, and will people buy it?

The iPhone Fold is likely to be expensive. An initial estimate from research analyst Arthur Liao suggested the Fold’s price tag – gulp – would come in around $2,399. That’s in line with expectations in a new International Data Corporation (IDC) report. Last year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the iPhone Fold could sell between $2,000 and $2,500.

Despite the high cost (the flagship Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is priced at $1,999.99), sales expectations remain high. The IDC report estimates that Apple will spend one-third of the money spent on the foldable market by 2026.

“But the real game changer for the category comes at the end of the year when Apple enters the foldable space, which is expected to capture more than 22% share and a staggering 34% of the foldable market value in its first year, thanks to an expected price level of $2,400,” the report reads.

In March, Mark Gurman said that Apple could classify the iPhone Fold as an “Ultra” product, placing it in a higher price range than other devices in its portfolio alongside other high-end devices such as the Apple Watch Ultra. If the phone ends up costing at least $2,000 as expected, this would make sense.

The latest leak of the iPhone Fold

Recent leaks point to two rear cameras, not three.
Credit: Zain bin Awais / Mashable

In December 2025, we saw several alleged iPhone Fold renders circulating on social media, all sharing the same design. We could take these with a grain of salt, of course.

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In February, a retailer known as Instant Digital posted some alleged iPhone exploits on the Chinese social media site Weibo. As with most leaks, especially those related to Apple, we cannot confirm its authenticity. However, they are consistent with previous reports of the phone’s overall appearance.

Recently, Apple leaker Sonny Dickson shared another possible iPhone Fold in March 2026.

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Instant Digital makes some interesting claims. Most notably, the report claims that the iPhone Fold will have the largest battery ever for an iPhone. (For reference, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is estimated to have a battery of around 5,088 mAh.)

“Volume buttons are missing on the left side,” reads a translation of the post. “Instead, they are placed directly at the top of the right bezel (similar to the volume button layout at the top of the iPad mini). This may take some getting used to in users’ normal phone habits.”

The post also said, “Dual rear camera + microphone + right side is arranged horizontally. The camera module appears to be completely black and does not match the color of the body. Currently, the only confirmed color is white, but it is expected that Apple will launch two color options.”

Beyond the physical layout, another recent report suggested that you’ll be able to run multiple apps side by side when the phone is open, similar to multitasking in iPadOS 26. However, by all accounts, this device will run iOS, not iPadOS, so you won’t get the full iPad experience on the iPhone Fold. (Apps designed to run natively on iPadOS, for example, won’t work.)

What will the details of the iPhone Fold look like?

What would you like to see in the design of a foldable iPhone? Let us know in the comments.
Credit: Zain bin Awais / Mashable

The iPhone Fold remains somewhat of a mystery, of course, but we have a very rough idea of ​​what it could offer. Based on all the rumors, the iPhone Fold could look like this:

• Exhibitions: 7.8-inch internal OLED display, 5.5-inch external OLED display

• Dimensions: 9.5mm open, 4.5mm folded

• Security: Touch ID

• Processor: A20 processor

• Cameras: Dual rear cameras (48MP), dual internal/external front cameras

• Amount: $2,399

• Battery: At least 5,088 mAh

A report from Chinese news outlet United Daily News noted that the iPhone Fold may not be strong, meaning you won’t see that ugly line when it’s folded open.

Since then, we’ve seen several reports claiming that Apple is committed to making the iPhone Fold’s display even better. It should be very long, very thin, and yes, without a visible crease. Samsung Display is reportedly producing OLED displays for the iPhone Fold, as Samsung has the best flexible display technology in the game. There’s a reason Samsung released the Galaxy TriFold while the world was still waiting for the first foldable iPhone.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has also posted several reports on the iPhone Fold recently, including laying out the basic specifications of the device. He said the foldable iPhone will be a book-style foldable device with four cameras – two on the back, one inside, and one front-facing selfie camera. Gurman also predicted that it will use Touch ID like the iPad Air and Pro, although iPhones usually use Face ID.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported earlier this year that the iPhone Fold will have a 7.8-inch internal display, a 5.5-inch external display, and is estimated to be just 9 to 9.5mm thick. We heard another rumor in September 2025, which said that the iPhone Fold will look like two iPhone Airs put together, with the same thickness of 5.6mm. Why is there a difference between these two reports? There can be a difference between the thickness of the device when folded and unfolded.

There is also talk of Apple using new technology to make the iPhone Fold lighter and more durable than most folds. These rumors include a report that the company is using liquid steel for the phone’s hinges, which should improve durability.

Mashable’s Alex Perry also compared the possible specifications of the iPhone Fold with the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, which we know a lot about. Apparently, Samsung’s triple will be bigger and bigger than the iPhone Fold. If not, we are still waiting for official details. But if the latest rumors turn out to be true, the wait won’t be long a lot long.

Finally, even though the iPhone Fold is still in the realm of dreams, there are already rumors about a follow-up, clamshell-style foldable from Apple, possibly called the iPhone Flip. That probably won’t come until next year, however.

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