Apple's Foldable iPhone to Debut in 2026 with Near‑Invisible Hinge, Samsung‑Made Flexible Display and New Touch ID

The development timeline offers a useful framework. In June 2025 Apple moved its foldable iPhone into the P1 prototype phase, the first of three two‑month development cycles (P1, P2, P3). By early July, conflicting reports suggested the project had been temporarily shelved, yet other sources confirmed that prototype work was still progressing behind the scenes. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has repeatedly insisted that the device – dubbed the iPhone – will launch in 2026 with a base price of at least $2,000. By July 21, Apple was reportedly tackling two of the most persistent criticisms of foldable devices: the visible crease that appears where the screen folds, and the durability of the hinge mechanism. A week later, TrendForce warned that Apple’s entry could be a market‑turning moment, pushing foldables from a niche curiosity into mainstream adoption.

Perhaps the most revealing detail came on July 25, when prominent analyst Guo Ming‑Qi of Tianfeng International Securities disclosed that Apple will not rely on an in‑house flexible‑display solution for its first foldable. Instead, the company will source the panel from Samsung Display, a move that mirrors Apple’s historical strategy of leveraging best‑in‑class components while focusing its own engineering resources on integration and user experience. The partnership signals that Apple intends to bring a mature, production‑ready screen to market rather than gamble on a still‑evolving proprietary technology.

Apple’s broader product roadmap supports the foldable’s timing. The company plans to unveil the iPhone 18 series in the second half of 2025, and alongside that flagship lineup it intends to launch the iPhone 18 Fold. That device will reportedly re‑introduce Touch ID, this time embedded under the display, suggesting Apple is willing to blend familiar biometric security with a radically new form factor. TrendForce’s latest research estimates that Apple’s announcement could lift the overall foldable‑phone penetration rate from roughly 1.6 % in 2025 to over 3 % by 2027, a modest but significant jump for a market still dominated by Samsung and a handful of Chinese manufacturers.

Beyond the hardware roadmap, the emerging narrative highlights several concrete advantages Apple hopes to showcase. First, the company appears to have made a breakthrough in hinge engineering. Sources claim the new hinge will be both highly robust and remarkably discreet, producing a fold line that is “almost invisible” when the device is opened. If true, this would address one of the most common consumer complaints about existing foldables, where a visible crease can detract from the seamless visual experience that users expect from premium smartphones.

Second, the larger unfolded screen is being framed as a platform for superior content consumption. Apple’s ecosystem already excels at media, reading, and productivity, and a tablet‑sized display that folds into a pocket‑sized phone could replicate the experience of reading a double‑page spread in a physical book while still fitting comfortably in a jeans pocket. The convenience of “a phone when closed, a tablet when opened” promises to reduce the need for users to carry multiple devices, a value proposition that aligns with Apple’s long‑standing emphasis on integration and simplification.

Third, Apple’s brand clout cannot be underestimated. The company’s entry into the foldable arena is itself a seal of approval for the technology, likely encouraging developers to optimize apps for larger, flexible screens and prompting carriers to offer plans tailored to higher‑data‑consumption use cases. Coupled with the seamless iOS integration—something competitors have struggled to achieve on Android‑based foldables—Apple’s move could create a virtuous cycle where hardware, software, and services reinforce each other, driving higher adoption rates.

The convergence of these factors – refined hinge mechanics, a focus on content-rich experiences, and the pull of Apple’s established ecosystem – suggests that Apple’s foldable could do more than add another product to its lineup; it could redefine consumer expectations for what a smartphone can be. Analysts, however, caution that the premium price point will limit early uptake to power users and enthusiasts, at least initially. Still, with Apple’s history of turning niche innovations into mainstream standards, the industry is watching closely.

In sum, Apple appears to be positioning its first foldable iPhone as a solution to the very pain points that have stymied the category’s growth: visible creases, fragile hinges, and a fragmented app experience. By partnering with Samsung for a proven flexible display, engineering a near‑invisible fold line, and re‑introducing Touch ID to complement the larger screen, Apple is primed to offer a device that feels both familiar and revolutionary. If the projected 2026 launch holds, the ripple effect could be profound – accelerating foldable adoption, expanding the overall market, and ushering in a new era where the line between phone and tablet truly blurs.