Apple to launch foldable iPhone on this date

Apple Inc. appears to be preparing to launch a foldable iPhone as early as 2026, which could represent the biggest hardware design revamp yet for the company’s most popular product.

The Cupertino, California-based company’s plan to launch a foldable iPhone mimics a similar move by Samsung, which pioneered the foldable device segment in 2019, in an attempt to attract new customers with a major design update.

The technology information website The Information reported that the foldable iPhone has passed the study stage within Apple, citing two people familiar with the matter.

It also added that Apple has reached out to suppliers in Asia to manufacture components for the device, noting that it has set an internal code name for the product as (V.68).

Foldable smartphones, powered by artificial intelligence features, are expected to stimulate demand for Apple products, which face intense competition from Honor and Huawei in China and Samsung globally.

The global foldable smartphone market grew 49 percent in the first quarter compared to the previous year, recording the highest growth rate in a year and a half, according to a report by Counterpoint Research released in May, with Huawei taking the top spot for the first time, beating Samsung.