Apple is likely to introduce its foldable iPhone as early as 2026, marking the biggest hardware design revamp for its most popular product. The company’s plan mirrors Samsung Electronics' move to attract customers with foldable phones, which it pioneered in 2019. Apple's foldable iPhone has progressed beyond ideation, with suppliers in Asia being contacted for components.

Internally, the product is codenamed V68. Foldable smartphones, equipped with AI features, are expected to drive demand, amidst competition from Honor and Huawei in China and Samsung globally. Samsung's latest foldable phones, unveiled in July, feature lighter and slimmer designs with new AI functions.

The global foldable smartphone market grew 49% in Q1, with Huawei surpassing Samsung for the first time. Apple also plans a camera upgrade for at least one iPhone model, enabling aperture size control for depth-of-field effects.

However, there is no guarantee that Apple will release the foldable iPhone.