There will be no foldable iPhone for the time being. According to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s first folding phone will appear in 2025 at the earliest. And that could include a foldable iPad.
When will the first foldable iPhone appear?
While rival Samsung has been releasing foldable smartphones since 2019, Apple is not rushing for a first ‘iPhone Fold’. Earlier, analyst Kuo reported that Apple’s first folding phone will be launched in 2024. He has now revised that prediction: the release is not until 2025 or later.
“In my posts from last year, I wrote that Apple will launch a foldable iPhone in 2024, but now it’s clear that this forecast needs to be revised,” Kuo wrote on Twitter. “I predict that Apple will release its first foldable product in 2025 at the earliest, which could also be a foldable iPad or a hybrid of an iPad and iPhone.”
First iPad, then Mac and iPhone
Kuo thinks Apple will introduce its foldable screens to medium-sized devices first. Currently, Apple is said to be testing a device that has a 9-inch folding screen. This is probably a hybrid of an iPad and an iPhone. When folded, the device is the size of an iPhone; unfolded, it looks more like an iPad.
After that, Apple will focus on devices with larger foldable screens, according to Kuo. He may be referring to the foldable 20-inch MacBook that was previously rumored. Only later does Apple bring its folding screen to smaller devices, such as the iPhone.
Kuo’s tweets follow shortly after a message from The Elec, where it is claimed that Apple is collaborating with LG to develop a foldable OLED panel with ultra-thin glass. These are intended for future iPads and MacBooks. Do you want to stay informed of the developments? Sign up for our newsletter: