According to a recent report from a source with direct knowledge, Apple is in the process of creating two prototypes for foldable iPhones. These devices will have a flip-style design, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Oppo Find N3 Flip, as opposed to larger devices like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold5 or the OnePlus Open.
It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean Apple is committed to releasing foldable phones at this time. The company is simply exploring the form factor, and these prototypes are not a part of Apple’s mass production plans for this year or 2025. If the project does move forward, the earliest we might see a foldable iPhone is in the fall of 2026. However, there is also a possibility that the project could be canceled if it doesn’t meet Apple’s high standards. Apple has been in talks with an Asian manufacturer to source parts for the foldable iPhone, but the project’s future is uncertain.
Apple initially aimed to create a thin, foldable iPhone back in 2018, but due to limitations in battery and display technology, the project was put on hold. The design was intended to have the display on the outside when folded, similar to Huawei’s Mate X, but this presented durability and design challenges. In 2020, Apple shifted its focus to a rumored foldable iPad, and now it seems that both the foldable iPhone and iPad are being developed simultaneously.
Currently, Apple engineers are focused on eliminating the display crease, and creating a hinge that allows the screen to lie completely flat to ensure compatibility with the Apple Pencil. While LG and Samsung Display are involved in the foldable iPad, it’s unclear which companies will be supplying the screens for the foldable iPhone.
