iPhone Fold could launch later than expected — here's why
by Richard Priday, , · tom's guide(Image credit: Bob Obba / YouTube)
If you're looking forward to the iPhone Fold next year, then I regret to inform you of the gloomy outlook just provided by Mizuho Securities about this phone's launch date.
The report, seen by The Elec, is quoted (via machine translation) as saying "Apple's final design and specifications, including the hinge, will take time to finalize, making it difficult to mass-produce a foldable phone in the third quarter of 2026 and release it in September."
The crux of the matter is the number of display panels that Apple is able to source. While it's still sourcing millions of screens for its first foldable phone, the report suggests that there won't be enough to keep up with the rest of production.
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Long story short — we may be waiting until 2027 for the iPhone Fold, rather than 2026 as other rumors have suggested.
Recent rumors have emphasized Apple's desire to get things perfect the first time around, which goes some way to explaining why it may be struggling to get enough components. We've heard several times about Apple wanting the perfect hinge and inner screen combo that eliminates the crease seen on other foldable phones. No doubt that's a key reason why display production is allegedly several million units lower than first thought.
Even if the iPhone Fold doesn't go on sale until 2027, this doesn't completely rule out the possibility of a fall 2026 announcement. Apple has been known to leave a months-long gap between announcing a product and actually selling it — just look at the Vision Pro.
We may well see the iPhone Fold on stage with the iPhone 18 series, but then get its own dedicated launch event in the following year. All while the other iPhone models go on sale that month as usual.
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A two-stage iPhone launch
Mizuho Securities also mentioned a rumor we've heard before about the iPhone 18 series' launch. Specifically, that the iPhone 18 Pro models will be unveiled next fall, but the basic iPhone 18 will instead launch in spring 2027 with the iPhone 18e.
It would be odd for Apple to split its phone launches like this, breaking its previously established patterns. But given the different audiences that Pro iPhones and the base and e-series models have, you can perhaps see the logic that Apple's working with.
A lot of rumors could appear between now and the time we may actually see a foldable iPhone. And we'll keep an eye on all of those for you. And hopefully some of them will have a more optimistic idea of when we'll be able to finally go hands-on with the long-rumored iPhone Fold.
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Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.
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