Apple Likely To Start Production Of Foldable iPhone Next Year

Apple Foldable Iphone: Rumours about Apple entering the foldable phone market have been circulating for a while. A new report by suggests that the Cupertino-based tech giant is set to begin mass production of its first two foldable devices in the second half of 2026. Additionally, an early prototype could be developed as soon as April next year. Currently, Samsung leads the foldable smartphone market with a 56 percent share.

Previous reports indicated that Apple plans to launch a foldable iPhone and a foldable iPad Pro in the coming years. The book-style iPhone is expected to feature a 7.8-inch primary display and a 5.5-inch cover screen, while the foldable iPad Pro could boast a sizable 18.8-inch foldable display.

According to MacRumors, citing analyst Jeff Pu, mass production of the foldable iPhone and iPad Pro could begin in the second half of 2026. In a research note shared with GF Securities, Pu reportedly stated that both devices have entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn.

The NPI phase is a crucial stage in smartphone manufacturing, encompassing design, engineering, prototyping, and the steps of the production that transition a device from concept to mass production.

Jeff Pu further speculated Apple will enter the prototyping stage in April and have a working model of the smartphone ready. Following that, fine-tuning and design improvements are made to transform the prototype into a marketable product. This could take until the second half of 2026 when the gadgets are mass-produced.

Previous reports claimed the rumoured foldable iPhone could feature a book-style folding design, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 model. Also, it is said to have an aluminium alloy middle frame and a dual rear camera arrangement that includes a main camera and an ultra-wide angle sensor. The battery is likely to have a capacity of 5,000mAh which might not match the levels offered by other brands.

Both foldable devices are expected to arrive in the global market by 2027 which might become clearer as we get closer to the launch timeline.