The iPhone Air may have given users a glimpse of what the 2026 iPhone Fold will look like — or at least half of it.
The iPhone Air is a big departure from Apple's typical iPhone designs. However, while the model may not necessarily be high-specification, it does show where Apple's design for the iPhone Fold could go.
Writing in the "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman discusses the iPhone Fold, which is anticipated to arrive in 2026. When it comes to styling, he has been repeatedly told, somewhat obviously, that users should imagine two iPhone Air handsets next to each other.
Aside from the large visible screen size from one large hinged display instead of two separate display panels, the thickness is a second element to look at. Previous reports postulate that the the iPhone Fold should be about as thin as the iPhone Air when unfolded for use.
This is somewhat unsurprising as a design concept, especially considering Apple's quest to create ever thinner hardware. Since the iPhone Fold would be at least twice as thick when closed up, it therefore needs to be as thin as possible when open.
Gurman goes on to say he believes the iPhone Fold will be expensive, costing consumers at least $2,000, making it very expensive compared to the iPhone. As for when it should arrive, Gurman anticipates a fall 2026 launch, as do other leakers.
Previous rumors have proposed the iPhone Fold could be even thinner than the iPhone Air. In July, a leaker claimed the iPhone Fold may be just 4.8mm thick, versus 5.1mm for the M4 iPad Pro and 5.6mm for the iPhone Air.
It could be even thinner, with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo uttering in March that it could be as low as 4.5mm.
As for the size of the screen, the larger foldable display is anticipated to be around 7.5 inches, while a smaller external display will be about 5.5 inches.
India production
When it comes to manufacturing the iPhone Fold, Gurman says Apple is still working with supplier and assembly partners to get it right.
While production will at a minimum take place in China via long-time partner Foxconn, India is also a possibility. Considering Apple's shift to produce its main-line iPhones in India, this would make sense in a few ways.
Part of it is due to Apple's diversification strategy to avoid issues such as global events from impacting sales and production. However, while Apple is seemingly free from tariff trouble for Chinese imports into the US for the moment, that can always change within the current trubulent political climate.
The India production claim is consistent with a report from September 18, which insists Apple is making a pilot production line in Taiwan, before replicating the final process in India. Doing so will reportedly help shorten the development time for the design.
However, this won't necessarily help speed up production planning in India. Aside from continued issues with equipment imports from China, Apple also has to source more local suppliers and make changes to its massive supply chain to accommodate it.
