Apple iPhone Fold: Release Date, Price, Specs, and Every Leak — March 15, 2026
After a decade of rumors, the Apple foldable iPhone is no longer a question of if. It is a question of when — and every supply chain signal right now says September 2026. Here is the most complete breakdown of the iPhone Fold available today.
iPhone Fold Release Date — September 2026 Is the Target
Apple is expected to release its first foldable iPhone in September 2026. The iPhone Fold will be part of the iPhone 18 lineup.
Digitimes reported on March 12 that Apple raised its initial production target by approximately 20 percent, with Foxconn absorbing the upside. Assembly lines have received orders. The device Apple internally code-names V68 is real, it is in motion, and the question shifts from whether to what.
The complete iPhone 18 series will feature six distinct models — the standard iPhone 18, budget-friendly iPhone 18e, ultra-thin iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone 18 Fold. The Pro models and the foldable will debut in fall 2026, while the standard and Air variants won't arrive until spring 2027.
iPhone Fold Design — Book-Style, Not Clamshell
Apple's foldable iPhone is similar in style to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold, using a book-style folding mechanism rather than the clamshell design of the Galaxy Z Flip.
Leaked CAD renders from reliable Apple leaker Sonny Dickson, shared on March 9, 2026, show a device wider than it is tall when open — a 4:3 aspect ratio, more iPad than iPhone — with a horizontal dual-camera bar across the rear and a centered hole-punch on the cover display. An iPad mini that fits in a jacket pocket.
The leaked CAD renders suggest the iPhone Fold measures about 9.6mm thick when folded and 4.8mm when unfolded, with a width of 83.8mm and a height of 120.6mm — closer to a passport in size, improving one-handed usability.
iPhone Fold Display — Nearly Crease-Free Is the Goal
The 2026 foldable iPhone reportedly has no visible crease — a problem that affects most foldable devices on the market. Apple is said to have pursued eliminating the crease regardless of cost, and the company developed a new material property that makes the crease disappear. The crease has been described as nearly invisible when the iPhone is unfolded.
The inner display is said to be 7.76 inches with a resolution of 2,713 × 1,920, slightly smaller than the iPad mini's 8.3-inch screen but close enough for a tablet-like experience. The outer display measures 5.49 inches at 2,088 × 1,422, designed for convenient use without unfolding.
Samsung Display is the exclusive supplier for both panels on the iPhone Fold — the same Samsung that supplies its own Galaxy foldable lineup. Apple spent considerable internal effort attempting to develop crease-free display technology in-house but settled on a Samsung Display design by July 2025.
Full iPhone Fold Specs — Everything Leaked So Far
| Spec | iPhone Fold (Rumored) |
|---|---|
| Inner Display | 7.76–7.8-inch LTPO OLED, 120Hz |
| Outer Display | 5.49–5.5-inch OLED, 120Hz |
| Chip | Apple A20 Pro |
| Base Storage | 512GB |
| Authentication | Touch ID (no Face ID) |
| Thickness Folded | 9–9.6mm |
| Thickness Unfolded | 4.5–4.8mm |
| Rear Cameras | Dual (wide + ultrawide) |
| Front Cameras | Two — one per display |
| Hinge | Liquidmetal / waterdrop design |
| Frame | Titanium |
Touch ID Returns — No Face ID on the Fold
Due to the complex internal space requirements for the folding mechanism, the foldable model will likely use Touch ID instead of Face ID, marking a strategic return to fingerprint authentication for this specific variant.
Touch ID will be incorporated into the side button, much as it is on the iPad Air's power button. There will reportedly be two rear cameras and two front-facing cameras — one for when the iPhone is closed and one for when it is open.
iPhone Fold Price — Expect to Pay Between $1,899 and $2,500
Pricing signals a premium position, with the iPhone Fold expected to land around $1,899 at the lower end of estimates. Other reports put the ceiling at $2,500 — nearly twice the price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. That positioning targets early adopters, creative professionals, and business users who can justify the cost for the productivity benefits of having a phone that transforms into a tablet-sized workspace.
iPhone Flip — The Clamshell Version Is Coming Later
Apple is also testing a flip-style clamshell iPhone. The iPhone Flip is expected to arrive in 2027 as the more accessible entry into Apple's foldable lineup, competing directly with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series and priced near $1,099.
The iPhone Flip will not replace the iPhone Fold — the two devices will coexist at different price points targeting different types of users.
Market Impact — Apple Set to Dominate From Day One
IDC, in a forecast published in December 2025, projects the global foldable smartphone market to grow 30 percent year-on-year in 2026, the surge driven almost entirely by anticipation of Apple's entry. In its first year alone, Apple is projected to claim over 22 percent unit share and 34 percent of total foldable market value, at an average selling price of $2,400.
Ming-Chi Kuo expects 3 to 5 million iPhone Fold units to ship in 2026, rising to 20 million in 2027 alongside the second-generation iPhone Fold. Apple has made no official announcements. The earliest confirmation is expected when invitations go out for the iPhone 18 event in August 2026.
