$25.3 million foldable phones shipped worldwide in 2024, per Counterpoint Research—up 15% year-over-year, but still a measly 2% of total smartphones.
And here comes Apple, the latecomer giant, locking in September 2026 for its first foldable iPhone. Bloomberg’s scoop Tuesday nuked Nikkei Asia’s same-day tale of engineering snags pushing things back.
Look, Apple’s foldable phone saga? It’s been years of prototypes gathering dust. They tinkered endlessly because Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip and Fold felt too chunky, too battery-hungry—didn’t pass the Cupertino sniff test. Now, sources whisper mass production hasn’t even kicked off. September’s the plan, tied to iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launches, but supply? Razor-thin for weeks.
The company is preparing to introduce the foldable phone in September along with or soon after the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. It will price the foldable phone above $2,000.
That’s straight from Bloomberg. No Apple comment yet—classic radio silence.
Why September for Apple’s Foldable Phone?
Apple’s rewriting its iPhone calendar. No more fall frenzy cramming four models into supply chain hell. Instead: high-end trio in September—Pro, Pro Max, foldable. Then, spring 2027 drops the iPhone 18, 18e, maybe an iPhone Air. Steadier revenue, less worker burnout. Smart? In a world where iPhone sales flatlined at 232 million units last fiscal year (down 1% YoY), yeah—desperation disguised as strategy.
But hold up. Foldables? Samsung owns 62% market share through Q3 2024, per Omdia. Their Z Fold6 and Flip6 moved 1.7 million units combined in debut quarter. Apple’s entry—book-style or flip? Rumors split, but expect OLED crease-minimizers from Samsung Display. Price at $2,000-plus screams ‘aspirational luxury’ in a category where Motorola’s Razr 2024 starts at $700 and users gripe about hinges snapping after 18 months.
Here’s my take—the unique angle you’re not reading elsewhere. This mirrors Apple’s 2007 iPhone launch: absurdly premium ($499 unsubsidized), dismissed as a toy. Foldables today? Same vibe. Hinge reliability’s leaped 40% since 2022 (DSCC data), batteries hold 20% more charge. If Apple nails a smoothly 7.8-inch unfolded screen—thinner than Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s 10.5mm— they’ll redefine ‘must-have’ again. Prediction: 5 million units year one, poaching 10% from Samsung’s premium slice.
Or flop. Creases still bug 68% of owners (YouGov survey). And that price? Oof.
Is Apple’s $2,000 Foldable iPhone Worth It?
Short answer: Depends if you’re chasing iPhone 18 Pro Max’s titanium vibes in a folder. But market dynamics scream caution. Foldable ASP averaged $1,100 last year—Apple’s doubling it, betting on ecosystem lock-in. Vision Pro flopped at $3,500 (under 500K sold, per IDC estimates); don’t sleep on halo fatigue.
Engineering hurdles? Nikkei wasn’t hallucinating entirely. Apple’s perfectionism delayed smartwatches five years past peers. Foldables demand under-display cameras, zero-gap hinges—Samsung iterated seven gens to get here. Apple’s first swing? Risky. Production unstarted means September’s a prayer, not a promise.
Yet revenue math tempts. iPhone generated $200.6 billion FY2024—28% of Apple’s total. A foldable refresh cycle every 18 months? Could juice services too, with that big screen begging for Apple Intelligence multitasking.
Skeptical? Me too. Samsung’s foldable sales dipped 20% QoQ in Q4 2024 amid Android AI hype. Apple’s timing—peak cycle—might catch the rebound. Or not.
Apple’s iPhone Schedule Shakeup: Game Changer or Gimmick?
Fall: Premiums only. Spring: Mass market. Ends the SE spring tease. iPhone Air rumors—a super-thin 6.6-incher—could undercut foldable cannibalization.
Workers cheer—no September overtime marathons. Foxconn’s humming steadier. But analysts yawn: iPhone upgrades slowed to 68% repurchase rate (Consumer Intelligence Research).
Bold call: This fragments loyalty. Pro users grab foldables; Air/SE fans wait. Revenue smoother? Sure. Excitement? Diluted.
Corporate spin calls it ‘innovation.’ Nah—it’s backlog management after Vision Pro’s $1.5 billion write-down.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the release date for Apple’s first foldable iPhone?
September 2026, alongside iPhone 18 Pro models—per Bloomberg sources. Production pending, so shifts possible.
How much will Apple’s foldable phone cost?
Over $2,000, positioning it as ultra-premium against Samsung’s $1,800 Z Fold.
Will Apple’s foldable iPhone change the iPhone launch schedule?
Yes—high-end in fall, entry/mid-tier in spring 2027 for steadier sales flow.
