Apple’s long-awaited entry into the foldable smartphone market is finally taking shape, with the company’s first foldable iPhone expected to launch in fall 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 series. Following years of speculation and delayed timelines, multiple industry sources now confirm that Apple has moved its foldable project into advanced prototyping stages, marking a significant milestone in the company’s product development roadmap.
The foldable iPhone, internally codenamed V68, has entered the critical P1 (Prototype 1) development phase as of June 2025, according to supply chain sources reported by DigiTimes. This represents a major advancement in Apple’s manufacturing timeline, with the company’s primary assembler Foxconn expected to officially begin production in late third quarter or early fourth quarter of 2025.
“The development status of the first foldable iPhone is now in line with the timeline of its other products, with P1 to P3 stages taking place around a year before Apple needs to start EVT,” noted industry analysts tracking the project. The device is expected to complete prototype testing by the end of 2025 before proceeding to the Engineering Verification Test (EVT) stage.
Design Specifications and Innovation
The foldable iPhone will adopt a book-style design similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, featuring a 5.5-inch outer display and a larger 7.8-inch inner screen when unfolded. The device is expected to measure approximately 9.5mm when folded and just 4.5-4.8mm when unfolded, making it remarkably thin for a dual-display device.
Apple’s most significant innovation lies in achieving a “crease-free” display experience, addressing one of the primary consumer concerns with existing foldable phones. The company has shifted from on-cell to in-cell display technology, moving touch sensors closer to the screen’s interior to reduce air gaps and minimize fold line visibility. This approach represents a marked departure from current Android foldables and could provide Apple with a substantial competitive advantage.
“Apple initially considered on-cell touch sensors, but these posed a risk of creating small air gaps that emphasised the crease. To address this, Apple has reportedly shifted to in-cell touch technology,” explained industry reports.
Unprecedented Camera System and Authentication
The foldable iPhone will feature an advanced four-camera configuration: one front-facing camera, one inner camera for video calls when unfolded, and two rear cameras rated at 48MP each. This setup ensures users maintain flagship photography capabilities regardless of the device’s folded or unfolded state.
In a significant departure from recent iPhone models, Apple will reintroduce Touch ID authentication via a side-mounted power button, abandoning Face ID for the foldable variant. This decision stems from space constraints within the ultra-thin design, as the TrueDepth camera system required for Face ID cannot fit within the device’s constrained profile.
“The complicated TrueDepth camera system required for Face ID will simply not fit inside such a thin enclosure,” noted Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, adding that Touch ID offers practical advantages for foldable devices, providing instant access regardless of device position.
Pricing estimates range from $1,800 to $2,000, positioning the device competitively against Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, which retails for $1,999. UBS analysts project Apple’s bill of materials at $759 per unit, benefiting from the company’s established supply chain relationships and bulk purchasing power.
“Apple’s ability to buy memory, chipsets and cameras for cheaper than rivals, plus the now established supply chain for other parts,” enables competitive pricing despite the device’s premium positioning, according to UBS analysis.
The foldable iPhone represents Apple’s most significant form factor innovation since the iPhone X introduced Face ID in 2017.
As the technology matures and Apple’s supply chain scales, the success of this initial foldable could determine the company’s broader strategy for flexible display devices, potentially extending to larger iPad variants and other form factors in subsequent years.
