Although all eyes are on the iPhone 17 occasion subsequent month, let’s not overlook that Apple might lastly dive into the foldable telephone market in 2026 with the long-rumored iPhone Fold. Now Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has shared some particulars about what to anticipate in addition to Apple’s three-year street map to reinvent its iconic iPhone line.
All of it kicks off with the iPhone Air, Apple’s super-thin new mannequin to problem the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. The iPhone Air will exchange the Plus-sized model of Apple’s flagship and have the corporate’s first in-house modem chip: the C1 modem, which was launched with the iPhone 16e. It is set to debut in September alongside the iPhone 17, 17 Professional, and 17 Professional Max.
Nonetheless, an excellent larger game-changer is predicted to reach subsequent yr. That is when Apple might debut its first foldable iPhone, which rumormongers are calling both the iPhone Flip or iPhone Fold. Gurman claims it will open like a e-book to disclose a bigger internal show, just like the perfect foldable telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Versus the retro-inspired clamshell design popularized by Motorola with handsets just like the Razr Extremely.
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Apple’s reportedly packing 4 cameras into its first foldable telephone: one on the entrance display screen, one on the within, and two on the again. If historical past serves, the principle rear digicam will take higher-resolution pictures than the selfie digicam, however Gurman did not provide a lot in the best way of specs. As for the second lens on the again, that might be both for ultra-wide or telephoto photographs. The handset’s four-camera set-up additionally suggests it might be used equally to a regular iPhone whether or not it is opened or closed.
Say goodbye to Face ID and SIM card slot
Just like the iPhone Air, the iPhone Flip is predicted to ditch the SIM card slot and depend on Apple’s in-house modem for connectivity. In a little bit of a throwback, it will additionally use Contact ID as an alternative of Face ID. Which will appear to be a step backward contemplating Apple’s adopted Face ID for all the perfect iPhones, however it’s prone to maintain the foldable from getting too cumbersome when closed.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has mentioned the iPhone Flip will likely be between 9mm and 9.5mm when folded, with the opened machine estimated to fall someplace between 4.5mm and 4.8mm skinny. It would be powerful to suit Apple’s TrueDepth digicam system, a necessity for Face ID, inside such a skinny chassis. In the meantime, the Contact ID fingerprint sensor has a a lot smaller footprint, making it the apparent option to shave off a number of centimeters.
Foldable iPhone’s value might make or break it
(Picture credit score: AppleTrack)
Apple’s first foldable machine is predicted to attract loads of consideration, although whether or not followers selected it over the usual iPhone will hinge closely on value.
Apart from Motorola, most Android foldables already include a hefty price ticket, beginning at $1,099 for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and approaching $2,000 for extra premium choices. Even Samsung’s Galaxy Flip 7 SE begins at $899, and that is the price range choice.
Given Apple’s historical past, its tackle a foldable telephone is not prone to are available in any cheaper. In line with Gurman, the debut mannequin will solely are available in black or white, and suppliers are gearing up for mass manufacturing to start out early subsequent yr forward of a fall 2026 launch.
iPhone design overhaul set for 2027
(Picture credit score: Apple)
Lastly, in 2027, Apple plans to have a good time the iPhone’s twentieth birthday with a design overhaul. In line with Gurman, the corporate is ditching the squared-off corners we have seen on each iPhone since 2020 in favor of curved glass edges.
This redesign appears to go hand in hand with the upcoming new Liquid Glass interface, which Apple’s posed as a key promoting level of iOS 26. This provides rounded edges to on-screen components and provides every part a translucent, layered look, permitting the colours behind them to bleed via as if via a sheet of glass.
“The underside line: 2025 received’t be a revolutionary yr for the iPhone. However it is going to lay the inspiration for main shifts in 2026 and 2027, making it an thrilling time for iPhone followers,” Gurman says.
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