Apple’s first foldable phone is on track to launch during the iPhone’s usual unveiling period later this year, people with knowledge of the matter said, rebutting concerns about major manufacturing problems.
The company is scheduled to introduce the foldable model in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, said the sources, who requested anonymity because the plans have not yet been announced. Typically, Apple cell phones hit shelves the week following their release.
A Nikkei Asia report had fueled concerns about a possible delay on Tuesday. Apple shares fell as much as 5.1% after the outlet reported that the company was facing challenges in the device’s engineering testing phase, which could delay the production and shipping schedule, according to Nikkei Asia.
While the complexity of the new screen and materials may limit initial offerings for a few weeks, Apple is currently working on a plan to put the device on sale at roughly the same time — or very shortly after — as the new non-foldable models, the sources said.
Apple shares pared losses after Bloomberg News reported the plans. The stock fell around 2.7%, to US$251.88, at around 1:04 pm in New York, this Tuesday.
Still, the launch is six months away and production has not yet been ramped up. This means the schedule is not definitive. A spokesperson for the Cupertino, California-based company declined to comment. The device is an important initiative for Apple as it seeks to expand the iPhone lineup with new designs, more expensive models and improved features. The goal is to better compete with Samsung Electronics Co. and Chinese smartphone makers, which have been offering foldable options for years.
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For Apple, the foldable iPhone is the second step in a three-year plan to reinvent the look and user experience of its flagship product. Last year, the company launched redesigned Pro and Pro Max models and a thinner version called the iPhone Air. It is also working on a separate redesign of the iPhone for 2027 to mark the product’s 20th anniversary.
The iPhone roadmap has been a priority for Apple’s senior management — including hardware chief John Ternus, who, according to Bloomberg News, is one of the top candidates to eventually succeed CEO Tim Cook.
The foldable iPhone will be similar to competing products — with some important differences. Apple engineers believe they have resolved issues with screen quality and overall durability, two long-standing weaknesses in this category of smartphones. This includes making the screen crease less visible when it is fully open.
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The iPhone will feature a wide-screen orientation when opened in landscape mode, making it more suitable for watching videos and playing games than the narrower foldable phone offerings available today. Apple plans to update the iOS operating system to make iPhone apps more similar to iPad apps on this new device.
The price of the product, in turn, must exceed the US$2,000 mark. While this may turn off some consumers, it should increase Apple’s average sales ticket and help drive the company’s revenue growth.
At the same time, Apple is making changes to the annual iPhone release schedule. The next entry model will be delayed until spring 2027, according to Bloomberg News. The company also intends to launch a new iPhone Air and a lower-cost iPhone 18e during this period. The iPhone 17e was launched last month.
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