Apple is finally getting ready to enter the foldable phone market, with its first iPhone Fold reportedly slated to launch as early as 2026. The company is actively developing a book-style foldable iPhone to compete with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series. This would be a major step for the iPhone maker as it explores new form factors and works to redefine the foldable smartphone experience.
The company may introduce some features and utilities that are limited by the screen real estate of existing models, such as split-screen view.
Samsung is already far ahead in the foldable phone space, having released multiple generations of Galaxy Z Fold models, while Apple has taken a more cautious approach. Writing in the latest issue of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman notes that Apple's internal comparisons suggest the company is aiming for a design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold, which opens like a book to reveal a larger display. However, Apple engineers were not satisfied with the design of the iPhone Fold because it just used an existing design on the market. While the tech giant hopes the device will be thinner, lighter and more durable than Samsung's offering, its overall design language will remain the same.
One of the company's biggest struggles is the crease in the display, which has been a point of complaint since foldable phones came out a few years ago. Apple wants its devices to have little or no creases at all, which may be why it's delayed the release, while Samsung releases quite a few upgrades every year. Foldable iPhones face considerable engineering challenges in order to create a device that is both thin and strong without creasing the display. All of these factors combined resulted in Apple's launch being pushed back beyond its expected date.
Gurman said that 2026 is still the earliest time for the foldable iPhone to be released. Given Apple's high quality standards, it's not surprising that Apple would take its time to advance this technology before launching it to the public.
Apple's entry into the foldable market will set a new standard for the segment, especially if it succeeds in launching thinner, crease-free devices. All eyes will be on whether Apple can raise the bar and make a foldable iPhone more useful than it already is. More importantly, it remains to be seen whether this device can become a mainstream product for the masses.