It seems Apple is taking a “better late than never” approach.
While there’s been much speculation about Apple’s first foldable smartphone, insider Jukan Choi, or @Jukanrosleve on X, shared more details about the company’s future device, hinting that it could be released in 2026.
The insider revealed that prototyping for the foldable iPhone started in June. The process could be completed by the end of this year and enter another stage, known as the Engineering Verification Test (EVT).
If everything goes according to plan, the new iPhone could be launched in the second half of 2026, reports DigiTimes Asia.
The source that Choi cited also revealed that the company planned to release one more foldable device, an iPad, in addition to a smartphone. However, it’s already been confirmed that the foldable iPhone will come out first, with the iPad being “temporarily put on hold.”
It’s been assumed that the reason behind this involves nuances related to iPad manufacturing, making it harder to produce components. This leads to a higher price and thus lower interest once the product hits the market.
While foldable device tech isn’t exactly novel, especially as we’re seeing foldables making somewhat of a return, the iPhone foldable supply chain is only showing limited progress so far.
Report: Apple Begins Prototype Production of Foldable iPhone, Targets Launch in H2 2026
undefined Jukan Choi (@Jukanlosreve) July 2, 2025
Apple's supply chain has revealed that P1 (Prototype 1) for the foldable iPhone began in June, with the potential to complete the Prototype development process by the end of 2025, before… pic.twitter.com/k2ttKFozkC
Choi notes that the device has been in development for more than five years and has undergone “more than a dozen revisions.” Even now, supply chain vendors “remain cautious,” as the company has a tendency to stretch the project every time something goes the way it was intended.
Before the product reaches the EVT stage and the fate of its mass production becomes more clear, it has to go through three prototyping stages (P1 to P3), which usually take around two months.
During these multiple prototyping stages, the supply chain starts small-volume production, which is then given to Apple product manufacturers Foxconn and Pegatron for further assembly. This is also the stage where the device is inspected for possible issues.
Speculations around Apple’s foldable included an estimation for smartphone shipments, which could reach around 7 million units. However, this number may change due to changing market conditions.
Choi notes that foldable device shipments have been declining over time because of increasing competition and slowing market demand.
Nevertheless, the analyst also noted that Apple’s overall market share continues to be stable. In September, the company is expected to release the iPhone 17 Air, its thinnest smartphone.
However, decreasing sales for Samsung's S25 Edge ultra-thin phone indicate that success might not be a guarantee for the future iPhone.
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