Apple’s first foldable iPhone could see limited availability after launch next year: Report

After years of wait, Apple is finally said to be launching its first ever foldable device, the iPhone Fold next year. However, a new leak has revealed that the phone could be up for supply shortages till the end of 2026.

The leak comes via analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who says that the development of the foldable iPhone is running behind earlier expectations. However, Kuo states that the iPhone Fold is still likely to be be released in 2026. Earlier leaks suggest that the iPhone Fold could debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max next year while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 could be pushed to 2027.

Kuo says that the ‘early-stage yield and ramp-up challenges’ could mean that the smooth shipments of the foldable iPhone may not occure until 2027.

“With limited supply and expected strong demand, the foldable iPhone could be facing shortages until at least the end of 2026.” the analyst says

The warning Kuo highlights that the foldable phone cold face challenges as it goes into mass production. Earilier reports suggested that Foxconn could begin the production of iPhone Fold by the end of 2025 but it seems those plans may have hit a roadblock, but with lack of credible inputs on the same, its hard to know exactly what may have went wrong.

In the past, there was also a forecast by Mizuho Securities that suggested that the iPhone Fold launch could be pushed to 2027 if Apple takes a lot of time in finalizing some key details of the phone like its hinge mechanism

What's expected from iPhone Fold?

Leaks suggest that the iPhone Fold could come in a book style fold, rather than the clamshell "flip" style fold of the Galaxy Flip 7. The phone could come with a 7.6 -7.8 inch inner display while the outer display could pack a 5.2-5.5 inch real estate.

The foldable iPhone could feature a thickness of around 9-9.5mm and 4.5-4.8mm when unfolded.

The foldable iPhone could feature the touch ID on the side of the device and come with a titanium chasis. The phone could come with an under display camera and a creasless display. It could come powered by the A20 Pro chipset while coming in an only e-SIM variant.

There have been various leaks about the pricing of the iPhone Fold but all of them vary in their estimates which range from $1,800 all the way up to $2,500.