Key Takeaways
1. Apple’s foldable iPhone may not launch until 2027 due to ongoing development of the hinge and display design.
2. Panel production predictions for the foldable iPhone have been reduced from 13 million to 9 million units, with initial shipments expected to be limited to 5–7 million units.
3. The iPhone Fold will feature a 7.58-inch internal display and a 5.38-inch external screen, with advanced display technologies for better efficiency.
4. Apple may stagger iPhone releases starting in 2026, with the iPhone 18 lineup expected in September 2026 and base models following in spring 2027.
5. A foldable MacBook is unlikely to be released until 2028–2029, as Apple wants to gather consumer feedback on the foldable iPhone first.
Apple’s much-talked-about iPhone Fold might not hit the market until 2027, as reported by Japan’s Mizuho Securities and echoed by the Korean tech site, The Elec. The research suggests that Apple is still working on perfecting the hinge and display design, which makes it tough to kick off mass production by Q3 2026, meaning it likely won’t launch alongside the iPhone 18 series that September.
Panel Production Adjustments
Mizuho Securities has also cut its predictions for the foldable iPhone’s panel production, reducing the expected numbers from 13 million to 11 million, and now down to 9 million units. Even if Apple sticks to a 2026 production timeline, the initial shipment could be limited to 5–7 million units, which is below the total panel output. The firm estimates that the planned production volume could range from 10 million to 15 million units, depending on pricing and return rates.
Samsung Display is expected to supply all display panels for Apple’s foldable iPhone. This is the same manufacturer that produced the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which was released earlier this year in South Korea for KRW 2.38 million ($1,700).
Display Specs Revealed
The report states that the Apple iPhone Fold will showcase a 7.58-inch internal display and a 5.38-inch external screen. It will incorporate CoE (Colour filter on Encapsulation) to eliminate the polariser, feature a hole-punch display design, and utilize LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) TFT for better power efficiency.
Previously, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned that the average cost of the iPhone Fold hinge might drop to about $70–80 per unit—around 20–35 percent lower than what was originally thought—due to design improvements and efficient manufacturing from Foxconn.
Future iPhone Release Strategy
Mizuho also forecasts that Apple may start to stagger iPhone releases into autumn and spring seasons beginning in 2026. The iPhone 18 lineup, set for September 2026, is anticipated to include Pro, Pro Max, Air, and Fold models, with the base iPhone 18 and budget iPhone 18e likely following in spring 2027.
Apple’s overall iPhone shipments for 2026 are projected to be 229 million units, which is about 7 percent less than the 246 million expected in 2025. However, they are expected to rebound to 252 million units in 2027, potentially surpassing the previous record set in 2015. Mizuho also mentions that Apple is already working on new technologies for the iPhone 19 series, aligning with the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, when foldable prices are anticipated to drop.
Foldable MacBook Timeline
Additionally, the report indicates that Apple’s foldable MacBook, featuring an 18.9-inch flexible display, is unlikely to debut until 2028–2029, as Apple wishes to first assess consumer feedback on its foldable iPhone.
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