Is Apple launching a foldable phone in 2026?

Apple might finally be hopping on the foldable phone train. Yup, the same Apple that’s been sticking to the same old slab design for years (I mean, yeah, it’s sleek, but come on, we’re kinda bored now). According to some rumors floating around the tech world, the company’s apparently planning to drop a foldable iPhone by 2026. About time, right?

Now, before we all get too hyped, this isn’t Apple officially announcing anything yet. It’s more like industry leaks and behind-the-scenes whispers. But honestly, where there’s smoke with Apple, there’s usually fire… or at least a keynote in the making.

So, why 2026?

Let’s be real—Apple never rushes into anything new. Like, look how long it took them to bring in widgets or USB-C on the iPhone. They like to sit back, watch what everyone else is doing, and then try to do it “better.” Samsung’s been doing foldables for years now. Motorola too. Heck, even Google jumped in with the Pixel Fold. And here’s Apple, quietly lurking in the shadows, probably dissecting every competitor’s mistake.

Word is, Apple’s not just working on one, but two types of foldable devices. Some sources say there’s a clamshell-style design (like the Galaxy Z Flip) and a book-style one (think Galaxy Z Fold). It’s not clear which one will make it to market first, but 2026 seems to be the internal target for at least one of them to launch.

I’m guessing they’re taking this long because they want to get the folding tech just right. Let’s be honest, some of those early foldable phones were kind of a mess—cracked screens, weird creases, chunky bodies. Apple probably wants to avoid that whole drama.

What could it actually look like?

If I had to guess, Apple’s foldable iPhone won’t look anything like what we’ve seen from Samsung or Motorola. Knowing Apple, it’ll be some super minimalistic, all-glass, futuristic thing that looks like it came out of a sci-fi movie. There’s even talk that Apple might not call it an “iPhone” at all. Maybe something new altogether? 🤔

There’s been some speculation that the foldable will be more like a mini iPad that folds into a phone, rather than a phone that flips shut. Which honestly makes sense. If Apple can give us a device that works like an iPhone when closed and an iPad when open, that’d be pretty sweet.

Oh, and there’s rumors they’re working on some crazy-thin display tech with no visible crease. No clue how far along they are with that, but you know Apple—they’ll obsess over stuff like that before letting it see the light of day.

What about price?

Okay, now the not-so-fun part—this thing is probably gonna be insanely expensive. Like, iPhone Pro Max prices… and then some. Samsung’s foldables start around $1000 to $1800 depending on the model, and Apple doesn’t exactly have a rep for going easy on your wallet.

So yeah, if you’re planning to get one, maybe start saving now—or sell a kidney.

Is this even what people want?

That’s the big question, isn’t it? Do people even want foldable phones? I mean, they’re cool and all, but the average iPhone user seems pretty content with the current design. But then again, if Apple can nail the foldable form and make it super sleek and functional, they could change people’s minds real quick.

Honestly, I think a lot of people are just waiting for Apple’s version to come out before taking foldables seriously. Kinda like how tablets existed before the iPad, but no one cared until Apple did it. Same with smartwatches. If anyone can make foldables mainstream, it’s probably them.

Final thoughts

So yeah, 2026 feels like a long wait, but in Apple-time, it’s really not. If the foldable iPhone is real (and it’s looking more and more like it is), we’re in for a pretty exciting couple of years in the tech world. I’m not saying I’m gonna camp outside the Apple Store or anything… but I might set a calendar reminder to start obsessively refreshing the Apple site that week.

Anyway, let me know what you think—would you actually buy a foldable iPhone? Or are you sticking to your good ol’ slab for life?

Also read: https://thephoneyguy.com/which-smartphone-brand-will-rule-the-mobile-market-in-2026/