Apple is preparing to enter the foldable smartphone market in 2026 with a book-style device, signalling a significant shift that could disrupt the race between Samsung, Huawei, and other tech giants.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to arrive in September 2026, with multiple reports pointing to a book-style device that would place the company directly against Samsung and Huawei in the still-small but fast-growing foldable market. According to MacRumors, the handset is likely to sit within the iPhone 18 Pro family and is being developed with a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner panel, positioning it as a premium model rather than a mainstream replacement.
The device is also said to be nearing key manufacturing milestones. MacRumors reported in June that components had started to arrive in limited quantities, while Foxconn had begun trial production and was preparing for mass manufacture later in the summer, assuming no setbacks emerged. Separate reporting has described the handset as on track for a September debut, with no indication of delay from supply-chain sources.
Apple’s entry is likely to reshape the competitive balance. Counterpoint Research expects global smartphone shipments to rise sharply in 2026, partly because of interest around the foldable iPhone, while Samsung is forecast to remain the market leader even as its share slips. The same outlook suggests Apple could quickly move into the top tier of foldable vendors if supply is strong, while Huawei remains a major rival in China. Huawei Central also said the new device may be branded iPhone Ultra and could arrive with a 2nm A20 Pro chip, 12GB of RAM, Apple’s C2 modem and a dual 48MP rear camera system.
Design details point to a device built around Apple’s usual emphasis on integration rather than novelty for its own sake. MacRumors has reported that the phone may use Touch ID instead of Face ID, alongside a titanium-aluminium frame and a crease designed to be barely visible. Apple is also said to be working with Samsung on foldable OLED panels, including CoE technology, which underlines how dependent the company still is on a narrow supplier base. Reports from Huawei suggest the Chinese maker is already pursuing a wide-format foldable of its own, hinting that Apple’s first model will enter a market where rivals have been refining the category for years.
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