Apple’s First Foldable iPhone With A Clamshell Design To Launch In 2026, As Company May Have Already Signed A Panel Contract With Samsung

Apple’s first foldable iPhone is speculated to launch in 2026, according to the latest information from DigiTimes, in a design that will resemble the Galaxy Z Flip lineup instead of the Fold. This will be a major turning point for the iPhone since its debut, and the company has been working to secure technology for a long time. So far, the company has been running into issues related to the hinge mechanism, as Apple wants little to no crease on the screen.

Apple to launch its first foldable iPhone in 2026 with a clamshell design similar to the Galaxy Z Flip lineup

Currently, Apple is working to launch its iPhone 16 lineup in September with new additions and some changes to the design of the device, especially the non-Pro models. We have also heard details on the iPhone 17 lineup earlier this week, and we can speculate that the design of the iPhone 17 Pro will be kept more or less the same as well while the company introduces a new “Slim” model in the lineup that will replace the ‘Plus” model. Today, we have details on the foldable iPhone, which is reported to launch in 2026.

According to reports from Korean media outlets Hankooki and ET News, sources close to Apple indicate that the company has been conducting R&D on a top-down folding smartphone since 2024. The unfolded device is expected to have dimensions similar to existing iPhones.

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In recent years, Apple has been securing patents related to foldable products. Rumors suggest that in 2024, Apple formally began R&D and signed a panel supply contract with Samsung Display (SDC). Given Apple’s typical two-year development cycle for new products, a 2026 launch is thus predicted.

The next two years are crucial for Apple as it aims to introduce novelty to the iPhone, and both the iPhone 17 and the foldable iPhone will prove to be a turning point for the iPhone. However, there are some details that you should keep note of related to the foldable iPhone, which Daniel Chiang and Jack Wu have shared in the report.

DigiTimes mentions that the 2026 foldable iPhone will feature a clamshell design, which means that it will house a design similar to the Galaxy Z fold Flip and not the Z Fold. Additionally, the device will feature the same dimensions and form factor as the current iPhone models when unfolded. The report also mentions that Apple might already have signed a contract with Samsung regarding its first foldable, securing panel orders and sharing quality requirements.

This is not the first time that we have heard details on the first foldable iPhone, but we have heard in the past that the company is focusing on other products with a foldable screen than an iPhone. We have also seen patents that show a foldable tablet and a laptop hybrid device. It is possible that the company will launch the foldable iPhone before the iPad and the MacBook.

Initially, it was speculated that Apple would first launch a foldable iPad to gauge market reaction and accumulate sales experience before introducing the technology to its primary product, the iPhone. However, due to challenges encountered in the Chinese smartphone market, Apple has reportedly adjusted its plans and may introduce the iPhone as its first foldable product.

It appears that the next big thing for Apple is foldable technology, and combined with Apple Intelligence, the company could increase its presence in the market. Especially in China, where its sales have been struggling to keep up with the competition. Android smartphone manufacturers like Samsung, Oppo, Huawei, and OnePlus have already launched their first foldable, and Apple is left in the dust for now, but 2026 might be the year the company steps into the foldable industry. Would you buy Apple’s first foldable iPhone?