A Foldable iPhone Is Set to Launch in 2026, According to Leaked Apple Roadmap
A renowned Apple analyst has released what he believes to be the Apple roadmap for the next two years. According to Ming-Chi Kuo – considered one of the most reliable sources for Apple rumors – Apple will set a new routine when it comes to iPhone launches.
Predictably, the tech giant will release the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Slim (a.k.a., the iPhone 17 Air), iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in the second half of 2025 – likely in September.
As we move into the new year, Apple will reserve the first half of 2026 to introduce the iPhone 17e. It is in the second half of next year that we will see some noteworthy changes take place.
Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that alongside the iPhone 18 Slim, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple will also unveil its first-ever foldable iPhone. News about a foldable Apple phone has been circulating for years, though we don’t have any concrete evidence to determine if it will be a book-style or clamshell device.
Apart from that, you’ll also notice that the base iPhone 18 has been omitted, as Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple will merge the launches of the iPhone 18 and 18e in the first half of 2027.
In the second half of 2027, Apple will pick up where they left off, with the iPhone 19 Slim, iPhone 19 Pro, iPhone 19 Pro Max, and the second iteration of the iPhone foldable predicted to launch.
It’s not quite a surprise that Apple is venturing into foldables, especially considering that Apple’s longstanding rivals have been jostling in that segment for a while now. Moreover, foldable offerings from Samsung, Google, HONOR, OPPO, and HUAWEI have been making headlines of late.
Apple has had plenty of time to observe market sentiment and will enjoy the benefit of knowing what works on a foldable and what doesn’t. A foldable iPhone always seemed like a matter of when, not if, and it could arrive as early as next year.
Source: [1] Ming-Chi Kuo
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