William Gallagher
Analyst Jeff Pu claims that Apple is about to start prototyping its first two foldable devices, with mass production scheduled for 2026.
Pu says that manufacturing will begin in the second half of 2026, which matches recent rumors, at least concerning the iPhone Fold. Since January 2025, multiple rumors have claimed that Apple has selected its foldable display manufacturer.
Jeff Pu's new note, as seen by MacRumors, specifically states that there are to be two foldable devices. He says that they are entering Apple's New Product Introduction (NPI) stage, and that mass production is scheduled for 2H26.
Pu does not name the iPhone or iPad, however, so even if his report is correct, it's conceivable that Apple is working on two foldable iPads, or two foldable iPhones. The most likely scenario, though, is that it is one of each — although even then, it does not mean that Apple will necessarily launch both at the same time.
Alongside the claims about the foldable devices, Pu predicts that iPhone shipments will be "lukewarm" over the next 12 months because of the recently announced delays to Apple Intelligence. He says, though, that the foldable devices will change that, and specifically that they will boost manufacturer Foxconn's business.
All Apple devices go through a New Product Introduction (NPI) process, even ones that are new versions of existing products. The iPhone 17 Slim, for example, is expected to launch in September 2025, and reportedly entered the NPI stage in December 2024.
Note that Jeff Pu has a history of predicting pricing, product timetables, and aggressive release schedules which all tend to be wrong. He has, however, learned decent information at times.
Amber Neely
Andrew Orr
Christine McKee
Mike Wuerthele
Malcolm Owen
5 Comments
Foldable iPad makes perfect sense. Avoid having to carry a separate keyboard-as-a-case.
A foldable iPhone is a waste of time and money on a phone that by 2026 will reach the 20th anniversary of a product that has been milked just as long. Why not invest the resources on a new product to excite the Apple devotees?
Two foldable items becomes an iPhone and an iPad, or is it two phones or is it two iPads?
The question is, if Pu is only half right (or could it be a quarter right), does he get full credit, or does that only apply to Ming Chi Kuo?
Can’t wait for JerryRigEverything and the class action lawyers when that foldable iPhone comes out and doesn’t last…. The standards are different for Apple versus Samsung or Google.