‘Most Significant Overhaul in the iPhone’s History’: Here’s When Apple Could Unveil Its Highly Anticipated Device

A new report suggests that Apple is mere months away from launching its next pivotal product.

By Sherin Shibu | edited by Brittany Robins | Apr 08, 2026
Comment
Listen to this post

Key Takeaways

  • Apple鈥檚 first foldable iPhone is slated to be unveiled in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, despite earlier reports of engineering delays.
  • The device is being treated internally as the most significant redesign in iPhone history.
  • The foldable model is central to a broader strategy to expand the iPhone line with new designs, higher price tiers and differentiated features.

Apple is preparing to launch its first foldable iPhone this year in September during the company鈥檚 typical phone debut period, people with knowledge of the matter told . 

The sources said that Apple will release the foldable phone alongside the iPhone 18 lineup, and the product鈥檚 price will cross the $2,000 mark. Though the high price point might deter some customers from buying the product, it could still increase Apple鈥檚 average sales price and spur revenue growth. Apple considers the device to be the most significant redesign in iPhone history. 

Bloomberg countered a from news site Nikkei Asia on Tuesday that sparked concerns about a delay in the launch date of the foldable phone. The news outlet previously reported serious manufacturing snags that could push the device back by months. 

Bloomberg鈥檚 sources painted a different picture. They suggest that while the new display and materials could keep early supplies tight for a few weeks, Apple still plans to have the foldable iPhone hit shelves at around the same time as the regular iPhone models. Apple usually brings its newest phones to store shelves the week after it announces them. 

Last month, Bloomberg鈥檚 Mark Gurman the foldable iPhone as 鈥渢he most significant overhaul in the iPhone鈥檚 history.鈥

Morgan Stanley鈥檚 Erik Woodring has that Apple鈥檚 entry into foldables could 鈥渄ouble the market for these devices by the end of fiscal 2027.鈥

What Apple鈥檚 foldable phone will look like

The foldable iPhone will have a few standout features. For one, Apple engineers think they have finally cracked two of the category鈥檚 biggest headaches: screen quality and durability, Bloomberg reported. One big improvement is a much less noticeable crease when users fully open the display. 

When unfolded, the phone will have a wider display that is better suited for watching videos or gaming than the narrower phones currently on the market, according to the outlet. Apple also plans to tweak its iOS operating system so apps on the new device feel closer to the iPad experience.聽

suggest an outer display of roughly 5.5 inches and an inner panel in the 7.6 to 7.8 inch range, putting it squarely in 鈥渕ini iPad鈥 territory when unfolded. 

How the foldable iPhone fits into Apple鈥檚 broader strategy

The foldable iPhone marks a major move for Apple as it looks to expand iPhone offerings, with fresh designs, higher-end models and new features. The goal is to close the gap with Samsung and China-based competitors that have long been selling foldable phones, according to Bloomberg.

Foldable phones have been on the market for years. The first commercially available foldable smartphone in the world was the , released in China in late 2018. The first foldable smartphone that launched in the U.S. market in a meaningful way was , which arrived in 2019. 

Companies have sold roughly over the past five years, per Statista. In comparison, Apple sold a record in 2025 alone, driven by high demand for the iPhone 17 lineup. 

For Apple, the foldable iPhone is the second phase of a three-year push to rethink what its flagship phone looks and feels like. Last year, it rolled out revamped Pro and Pro Max models, plus a slimmer iPhone Air. The company is already plotting another big redesign for 2027 to mark the iPhone鈥檚 20th birthday, according to Bloomberg.

iPhone innovation has become a major focus for top Apple executives, including hardware boss John Ternus, who is a leading candidate to eventually succeed CEO Tim Cook, Bloomberg last month. Cook, however, indicated in an interview last month that he is in no hurry to step down. 

“There’s so much left that we can do with the iPhone,” Cook last month with the podcast Inside the Ecosystem. “I think it’s going to continue to be the center of people’s digital lives.”

Key Takeaways

  • Apple鈥檚 first foldable iPhone is slated to be unveiled in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, despite earlier reports of engineering delays.
  • The device is being treated internally as the most significant redesign in iPhone history.
  • The foldable model is central to a broader strategy to expand the iPhone line with new designs, higher price tiers and differentiated features.

Apple is preparing to launch its first foldable iPhone this year in September during the company鈥檚 typical phone debut period, people with knowledge of the matter told . 

The sources said that Apple will release the foldable phone alongside the iPhone 18 lineup, and the product鈥檚 price will cross the $2,000 mark. Though the high price point might deter some customers from buying the product, it could still increase Apple鈥檚 average sales price and spur revenue growth. Apple considers the device to be the most significant redesign in iPhone history. 

Bloomberg countered a from news site Nikkei Asia on Tuesday that sparked concerns about a delay in the launch date of the foldable phone. The news outlet previously reported serious manufacturing snags that could push the device back by months. 

Sherin Shibu News Reporter

麻豆社 Staff
Sherin Shibu is a business news reporter at 麻豆社.com. She previously worked for PCMag, Business... Read more
Join the Conversation
Leave a comment. Be kind. Critique ideas, not people.
Sort: |

Related Content