First foldable iPhone now tipped for a 2026 launch as suppliers ready components for a familiar clamshell design

After years of rumors amid launches from competitors like Samsung and Google, Apple might finally be readying a foldable phone of its own. A new report suggests the first foldable iPhone will arrive in 2026.

The report, citing unnamed sources "with direct knowledge of the matter," claims that Apple has started to reach out to suppliers with a view to having them build the components for such a device.

However, amid rumors of a possible foldable MacBook or tablet, this report suggests that Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature a clamshell design similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. This means that the foldable iPhone will not have additional functionality, unlike a device like the Pixel Pro 9 Fold , a device that turns a phone into a tablet with a large screen on command.

Bend it like Samsung

The report by The Information says that Apple has now given the project an internal code name, suggesting that the foldable iPhone has taken a step closer to reality. The device, called V68 internally, could take longer to move from concept to production than a standard iPhone, the report notes, despite the 2026 window previously suggested.

Issues Apple is thought to be dealing with include a reluctance to launch a foldable device before the telltale screen crease can be eradicated, while concerns over thickness are also a factor. However, with the 2025 iPhone 17 Slim thought to be the thinnest iPhone ever it's possible that development on that model could aid that of the foldable iPhone.

Long before any of those handsets launch, Apple is expected to ship the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models this September alongside the launch of iOS 18 and the Apple Intelligence beta.

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