Apple is expected to foray into the foldable smartphone market. We have been hearing about the same on and off. Cut to now, a South Korean website Alpha Economy says the Cupertino-based giant is eyeing for a September 2026 release date to showcase its first-ever foldable iPhone. As the timeline suggests, this coincides with the Apple iPhone 18 series and merely a month after Samsung unveils its next series of foldable devices i.e. Galaxy Z Flip8 and Z Fold8.
As usual, exact details about the upcoming foldable devices are under wraps but it remains to be seen how for. Apple has reportedly roped in employees working on its augmented reality headset Vision Pro who have an upper hand in developing foldable displays that will come in handy when it comes to the upcoming foldable iPhone or iPad.
With that being said, Apple is aiming to sell 50 million units. For context, over 14.2 million foldable units were sold in 2022 as per Canalys. The projection for 2027 is about 48.1 million units, and still, Apple’s projection dwarfs the total foldable smartphone market.
The sequel to Apple Vision Pro (aptly named Vision Pro 2) is not due for the next 18 months. It gives Apple a strategic advantage in overcoming the many hurdles that foldable displays face regarding durability and other parameters. Samsung’s recent MIL-STD 810G certification on the Galaxy Z Fold5 offers a breakthrough in the foldable smartphone realm.
At present, Apple is exploring multiple prototypes for foldable devices. The first mimics Galaxy Z Flip with a clamshell-like design while the other is an Z Fold-like 8-inch iPad. Cupertino-based giant Apple is working on display creases, building a better user experience, and reducing excess thickness. All in all, Apple is expected to bring a new era of innovation to the foldable smartphone market.
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