An analyst at Barclays believes that if the iPhone Fold launches in 2026, it will be in December, months after the iPhone 18 Pro. He's the only one saying this.
Many rumors point to the iPhone Fold launching in late 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, though no parts have leaked yet. It will be an incredibly expensive device and Apple's first attempt at a foldable.
A note from Barclays analyst Tim Long, viewed by MacRumors suggests the iPhone Fold will release in December 2026. He offers no detail as to why it would come out three months after its announcement other than supply chain sources.
The note also mentioned that there may be an iPhone 18 Plus in the spring — an equally unlikely claim. Both haven't been repeated by any other source.
Long's history as an Apple analyst is a long one. He was previously with BMO Capital Markets, where he was wrong about iPhone X demand in 2018.
He was also wrong about iPhone 16 while with Barclays in 2024. And his more recent predictions about iPhone Fold pricing are in line with accurate leakers like Ming-Chi Kuo.
Of course, Long being wrong about iPhone demand versus what he's learned from supply chain resources aren't tied together. He may have excellent sources, but his history does give us pause.
It doesn't help that he's the only one saying these things. We'll keep this rumor in our back pocket for if it appears again with more reliable leakers.
Until then, we're still waiting on some kind of leak confirming that the iPhone Fold will actually launch in 2026 at all. By now, a component leak should have occurred, but perhaps Apple has somehow managed to plug all of its leaks.
