Rumors about a foldable iPhone: 'Durable,' 'Fits easily in a pocket,' 'Convenient app layout like an iPad,' 'No telephoto lens or Face ID.'
Rumors have long circulated about Apple's first foldable iPhone, and numerous 'leaks' and predictions have emerged over the years. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, known for his extensive knowledge of Apple products and for providing a wealth of information before their release, has compiled the latest information as of August 2026.
Apple's Foldable iPhone Details; Retail Store Changes for New Home Products - Bloomberg
A foldable iPhone is expected to be unveiled at Apple's product launch event, which is anticipated to take place around September 9, 2026. With rivals like Samsung and Google already releasing foldable smartphones, fans are excited about the possibility of Apple finally releasing one as well.
To date, it has been reported that the foldable iPhone is called 'iPhone Ultra' within Apple, that it will feature Touch ID instead of Face ID, and that it will introduce a new user interface (UI) that is different from both iPhones and iPads.
In addition, reporter Gurman states that he 'spoke to several people who actually used the foldable iPhone before its release.'
According to these people, the foldable iPhone fits well in pockets, has an advanced hinge mechanism that feels good and durable, and appreciates the new UI. They also say that while the foldable iPhone's camera is easy to use, it has a major drawback: it lacks a telephoto lens.
Gurman analyzed, 'This drawback could reduce sales of the foldable iPhone. The price of this smartphone is expected to exceed $2,000 (approximately 318,000 yen), but the people willing to pay that amount and those who value more advanced camera features, especially deeper zoom, will likely overlap considerably.'
Gurman argues that Apple's release of the foldable iPhone will increase awareness of 'foldable smartphones' themselves, potentially boosting sales of foldable smartphones from other companies like Samsung and Google by millions of units.
Furthermore, Gurman points out that one of Apple's challenges is the Chinese market. According to Gurman, the foldable smartphone market is still a niche market, with China accounting for more than half of the market share. Gurman says that Chinese consumers are hoping to see 'how well Apple can compete against its Chinese rival, Huawei.'
Furthermore, in recent years, there have been a series of price increases for high-tech products due to material shortages. Apple is no exception, and has already raised the prices of several products as of July 2026. Reporter Gurman said, 'Price increases are unavoidable, but the question is how high they will go. Apple is watching how Samsung and Google respond to rising component costs. If they match the prices of both companies, the iPhone 18 Pro will cost $1,199 (approximately 190,000 yen), an increase of about 9%. Considering the severity of the memory shortage, this is a fairly modest increase.' The launch price of the iPhone 17 Pro was 179,800 yen for the 256GB model. Apple CEO Tim Cook has also acknowledged the price increases for Apple products.
Apple CEO Tim Cook says iPhone price increases are unavoidable - GIGAZINE
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