Apple hasn’t breathed a word about a folding iPhone, but it’s getting harder to ignore the signs. The latest comes from Samsung Display president Lee Cheong, who revealed his company is preparing flexible OLED panels for a major “North American client.” He wouldn’t name names, but given Samsung already supplies every iPhone OLED, it doesn’t take much imagination to connect the dots.
If the timeline of Samsung’s new production line is any guide, Apple’s foldable is likely to appear in late 2026 – right in time for the iPhone 18 event. Analysts expect a design with a 7.8-inch screen inside and a 5.5-inch display outside, essentially giving you a pocket-sized iPhone that unfolds into something closer to an iPad mini.
That could make the recently launched iPhone Air – Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet – something of a transitional device. Sitting in the experimental slot in the lineup, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the Air replaced (or augmented) by a first-generation iPhone Fold next year.
The only real mystery is how Apple will pitch it. Foldables have been around for years, but durability and price have kept them niche. If anyone can normalize the idea, it’s Apple, though the price is rumored to start well north of $2,000. That ensures the regular iPhone won’t be going anywhere soon.
Apple loves to keep its cards close to its chest, but the company hasn’t been great at keeping secrets the past few years. Between supply chain leaks and partner firms dropping heavy hints, the writing is on the wall. Unless this is just a great big misunderstanding…