According to news on February 22, digital blogger @SETANADigital revealed that,Apple plans to officially start mass production of iPhone Fold and iPhone 18 Pro in July this year, and the two models will be released simultaneously.
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the standard version of the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will be postponed until the first half of 2027, breaking Apple's past rule of launching the standard version first and then the Pro.
There is news that the iPhone 18 series will be redesigned. Many netizens complained about replacing the phone without changing the phone. The iPhone 18 series will most likely cancel the smart island that has been used for many years and replace it with a simpler single-hole screen. At the same time, the body frame will be further narrowed and the back camera module will also be reconstructed.
Xiao Lei believes that if Apple really redesigns it, even if it is just a major change in appearance, it will attract a large number of Apple fans to change their phones, because Apple's toothpaste is too crowded.
It is worth mentioning that @digitalchatstation also posted a set of 1:1 models of iPhone Fold. It does not follow the fancy design of Android folding screens, but continues Apple's consistent simple style. It adopts the mainstream horizontal inward folding design. When folded, the body is relatively compact, and when unfolded, it reveals an oversized internal screen.
In terms of appearance, it is likely to use a titanium alloy middle frame with a partially transparent glass back panel. According to supply chain sources, Apple will use a new liquid metal hinge with a built-in metal stress dispersion plate and self-healing coating technology to achieve a nearly crease-free effect.
In terms of functionality, iPhone Fold may cancel the physical SIM card slot and fully adopt eSIM mode.At the same time, Face ID is abandoned and the side Touch ID is used. Although this design is a bit regretful, it can be regarded as taking into account the thinness of the body and the user experience.
In terms of performance, the CPU will be equipped with the same A20 Pro chip as the iPhone 18 Pro, using TSMC’s 2nm process, which will improve performance by more than 15% compared to the previous generation. In terms of memory, it is likely to start from 12GB, with a maximum of 16GB of memory, and storage will start from 256GB, with a maximum of 1TB.
Source: Weibo
In terms of screen, the external screen size is about 5.5 inches and the resolution is 2088×1422. The internal screen size is about 7.76 inches, the resolution reaches 2713×1920, and it supports 1-120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate.
In terms of imaging, the rear dual camera module will most likely be equipped with a 48-megapixel main camera + a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and the inner screen will be equipped with an under-screen front camera.
In terms of battery life, iPhone Fold is expected to have a built-in large-capacity battery of more than 5500mAh, supporting 35W wired fast charging and 15W MagSafe wireless fast charging.
In terms of pricing, Xiao Lei predicts that the starting price of iPhone Fold in China is expected to be around 15,000 yuan, and the top-end version may be close to 20,000 yuan, which may be the most expensive iPhone model in history.
However, Xiao Lei would like to say that this price is a bit high for ordinary consumers. Unless you are a loyal Apple fan or a folding screen enthusiast, there is no need to blindly follow the trend and buy it. After all, this price can already buy two good mid-to-high-end Android phones.
For Apple, 2026 is definitely a critical year and a year full of challenges. You see, in the field of folding screens, we have to face fierce competition from Huawei and Samsung; in the field of high-end candy bars, we have to deal with the pursuit and interception of Android flagships; and the delayed release of the standard version may also lose some ordinary consumers.
Having said that, these leaked information have not been confirmed yet. We may as well wait and see what the iPhone Fold will look like in the end.