In recent years, Samsung has emerged as a top manufacturer of foldable gadgets, including the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. Though it is not the only brand producing foldable devices, it provides the most popular and widely available options, particularly in the United States. That raises the issue of whether Apple will follow suit with a foldable iPhone or possibly an iPad.
Long-standing reports suggest that Apple is working on such a device, including a foldable iPhone, which we’ll refer to as the “iPhone Flip” for now. Apple is a secretive firm, so there could be some research and development going on with such a device.
However, for the time being, all of this remains a supposition. From the most recent news, release date, and price, here’s all we know about the iPhone folding phone.
What is the iPhone folding phone price?
Foldable smartphones are anything but inexpensive. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 costs $999 and is the most cheap foldable smartphone with a clamshell shape. Book-style foldables, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Pixel Fold, start at $1799, about twice the price of typical flagship smartphones. Apple’s foldable iPhone will not be cheaper than the competitors. The price of the iPhone Flip is mostly determined by which design it will be released in.
If Apple comes up with a clamshell-style design, the iPhone Flip might cost between $999 and $1099. However, if we see a book-like fold-style iPhone like the Galaxy Z Fold, the price may approach the exorbitant $2000 barrier.
What is the iPhone Fold Release Date as of 2024?
It’s been over a decade since the giant registered patents for foldable devices. While no guarantees exist, a few release dates for the iPhone Flip have been suggested. Before we get too excited about the reports, let me clarify that a foldable iPhone will not be available in 2024, or even 2025.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in 2021 that the company is working on a foldable iPhone that might be released in 2025 or later. The next year, display analyst Ross Young announced that the foldable iPhone would be postponed until 2025. We’re already in mid-2024, and there’s no hint of a 2025 release yet.
The Information recently revealed that Apple won’t release a foldable iPhone until at least 2026. Also, analyst Jeff Pu believes that a foldable iPhone might emerge as early as late 2026, while TrendForce anticipates an iPhone Flip arrival in 2027.
Adding to the complexity, several rumors have cast doubt on the iPhone Flip’s debut date. In February 2024, a Chinese rumor indicated that Apple had halted work on foldable iPhones because displays failed to fulfill Apple’s specifications. Some observers believe Apple has fully abandoned the idea of a foldable iPhone. Fortunately, a Digitimes Asia piece revealed a ray of hope: Apple has redirected some of its Vision Pro headset resources toward the development of the foldable gadget. So, all hope is not lost.
To summarize the iPhone Flip release date rumors, the Apple foldable phone will not be released until late 2026. With this large difference, Apple is giving its competitors more time to stay on top of the scoreboard. Between 2019 and 2024, Samsung released six variants of the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip.
By 2026, Samsung will have two additional variations of each design. In addition, Google, Motorola, and other players may provide refined improvements. This indicates that the competition will only get more intense.
iPhone Flip Design Rumors
Since the first foldable iPhone rumors surfaced, many have speculated on what Apple’s Flip iPhone may look like. Designers have been posting concept images of the iPhone Flip/Fold for several years. Impressively, Apple appears to have stopped at nothing in terms of foldable screens, winning every patent for origami-style folding displays, flip-up displays, and wraparound displays.
There is currently no substantial information as to which style will advance to the finals. Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman were among the first to report that the first foldable iPhone would use a typical fold-out design.
Apple leaker John Prosser revealed in 2021 that Apple is considering two types of foldable iPhones: a dual-screen model with two displays joined by a hinge, akin to the Galaxy Z Fold or Pixel Fold, and a clamshell flip phone design similar to the Galaxy Z Flip models. Several more reports confirmed the rumor that Apple is testing fold-out book and clamshell designs at its Foxconn plant in Shenzhen, China. Several recent speculations suggest that Apple will release its first foldable iPhone with a clamshell design and a variety of exciting colors.
iPhone Flip: What Will It Look Like?
As you might expect, if you want a general sense of what an iPhone Flip would look like, simply look at the Galaxy Z Flip 4. When unfolded, this device has a 6.7-inch display and an external 1.9-inch Cover Screen.
This provides a quick and easy way to view notifications while also containing a few interactive widgets, such as the ability to set a timer.
Unless Apple decides to modify its design approach in the near future, we predict an iPhone Flip to resemble an iPhone 14, complete with a hinge in the middle and a flexible display. This suggests flat sides, speakers, and a charging port on the bottom, with buttons likely in the same location as the non-folding iPhone.
Honestly, one of the most pressing issues we have is what Apple intends to do with the cameras. The iPhone 14 Pro series includes the largest camera module we’ve ever seen on an iPhone, and we expect it to go even bigger.
Rumors about the iPhone 15 Pro have already circulated, implying that Apple will include a telescopic lens for improved telephoto photography. This entails a larger camera module, which results in a greater camera bump on the iPhone’s back.
It puts Apple in a vulnerable position since an iPhone Flip would most certainly cost more than the Pro Max iPhone introduced that year. And Apple would probably not want to introduce a potentially costly phone with substandard or “just okay” camera capabilities.
Then there’s the issue of “the crease.” Whenever a new foldable phone is released, potential purchasers check reviews to see if the crease has been fixed. However, this technology is still in its early stages, and while you will get used to it over time, a crease in the middle of your screen may be too startling for some. This is another possible reason why Apple has yet to release the iPhone Flip.